Foucault and the 'Anti-Oedipus movement': psychoanalysis as disciplinary power

Hist Psychiatry. 2009 Sep;20(79 Pt 3):340-59. doi: 10.1177/0957154X08337638.

Abstract

What psychiatry was for the anti-psychiatry movement, psychoanalysis was for the French 'Anti-Oedipus movement' represented by Robert Castel, Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari. Until now, the contribution of Foucault to this critical movement has been little known. In this paper I reconstruct in a systematic and exhaustive way Foucault's critique of psychoanalysis and, in particular, of the Oedipus-complex theory. I demonstrate that this critique presupposes a very specific epistemology and social theory. On an epistemological level, Foucault focuses on the power effects of psychoanalysis as a discourse of subjectivity. On a social-theoretical level, Foucault assumes a functionalist conception of society. These two aspects of Foucault's critique of psychoanalysis have not been adequately recognized in the discussion about his relationship to psychoanalysis (Derrida, Miller, Whitebook, among others). I argue that a fruitful dialogue between a Foucault-inspired critical social theory and psychoanalysis can take place only if these two distinct aspects are taken into account.

Publication types

  • Biography
  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Freudian Theory / history*
  • History, 20th Century
  • Humans
  • Incest
  • Oedipus Complex*
  • Philosophy / history*
  • Psychoanalysis / history*

Personal name as subject

  • Michel Foucault