Discussion Michel Foucault's A pleasure so simple

[Alexander331]

the simplest of pleasures

the simplest of pleasures on generation-online.org

www.generation-online.org

I'm curious what other members take on Foucault's opinion on suicide. Here's a quote from the short article that summaries Foucault's viewpoint on suicide:

You'll sense there the existence of places without maps or calendars where you can enter into the most absurd decors with anonymous partners to look for an opportunity to die free of all stereotypes. There you'd have an indeterminate amount of time - seconds, weeks, and months perhaps - until the moment presents itself with compelling clearness. You'd recognize it immediately. You couldn't miss it. It would have the shapeless shape of utterly simple pleasure. - Michel Foucault (Un

He's in favor of one's ability to commit suicide and in some interpretations against the one-dimensional view of suicide being a sense of melancholy. From Dits et ecrits II, he's of the opinion that one should work on there 'suicide all one's life.' Here a full quote:

I'm in favor of a true cultural combat in order to teach people again that there is no conduct that is more beautiful, that, consequently, deserves to be considered with as much attention as suicide. One should work on one's suicide all one's life. - Michel Foucault

 

[Oblivion Access]

Really interesting article actually, had no idea Foucault was so cool. Thank you for showing me this, algorithm-chan <3

 

[samras]

I am not anti-Foucault but I do question why didn't he work on his own suicide when he contracted AIDS at a time when there was no cure?

 

[Superdeterminist]

Strange take. I like that he is positive about it rather than wanting to forbid suicide outright like most people today. I can't say I view suicide as "beautiful" though. Although, I guess it maybe is beautiful to escape the horrors of this universe.