Truth and Power by Michael Foucault

In this essay, Foucault's principal interest is how power diffuses itself in systems of authority and how it affects of truth are produced within discourses which in themselves are neither true nor false. Truth itself is the product of relations of power and of the systems in which it follows, it changes as system changes. There are certain systems in society. So, the system is formed of many individuals, so it is a group power.

Therefore, he doesn't focus on any individual power. Under the system, society possesses some knowledge. By using such knowledge, the society (people) creates discourse (literature). We speak of the ideas we want. We produce speeches, we write books, newspaper etc. This process is discourse formation, and whatever is produced it is discourse. But this discourse consists of representation power and truth.

Representations have different forms: written and oral, audiovisual etc. Power is circulated through different forms of representation. Now this very represented power creates certain truth to everyone who is under the system. It means, power determines the truth and as soon as the system of society changes the truth also changes. It means, Foucault's discourse is related to the production of any information that provides knowledge. Once the discourse is created, knowledge about some aspect of life is provided. Thus knowledge helps create truth. But, Foucault himself admits that such truth is neither true nor false.

The power is generated in society by producing the discourses, and by constructing truths. Such power is creative. Marxist power is just political and economic whereas Foucauldian power is applicable everywhere. It operates in horizontal way (everywhere) other than Marxist power that goes in a vertical axis (from upper class to lower class). In Foucauldan power there is always check and balance. In terms of power, Marx has created hierarchy but Foucault has ruptured the hierarchy.

It means there is equality in the case of power distribution. For, instance, people exercise power in choosing the president or PM, who exercises his power over people by making certain rules and regulations. So the power has relational relationship. If there are no people, there is no PM, and if there is no ruled, there is no ruler.

In this way, relational relationship indicates the horizontal way of power. But this very power is accepted in society and the acceptance is the outcome of our constructed truths. For example, parents create certain discourse about their children what they should do and should not do.

By generating power through discourse parents even beat their children if they disobey. So, discourse provides information to give knowledge about the things. The truths are constructed and power is created. If the power changes through certain resistance, truth and knowledge also get changed.

The power is pervasive (everywhere) that occurs in all social bodies. In society, the normal is defined viewing abnormal. If one goes mad, he is excluded from society and his voice is not listened because normal people have power over abnormal people. Normal people have certain truth knowledge about madness and they behave accordingly. Therefore, power is accusing in society in a subtle way.

Power/ knowledge functions through language. Power, therefore is everywhere and keeps on changing. Because of new forms of power that were generated in society the issues of homosexuality, lesbianism, feminism and other minorities get a new definition in the course of history.