Michel Foucault

Michel Foucault (1926-1984) was one of the greatest structuralist social philosophers of the 20th century, known primarily for his studies on the concepts and codes through which societies operate, particularly regarding the "principles of exclusion" by which society "purifies" itself—such as the distinctions between the sane and the insane or the law-abiding and the delinquent. Some of Foucault's most significant works include: "Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason," "Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison," "The Order of Things: An Archaeology of the Human Sciences," "The Archaeology of Knowledge," and "The History of Sexuality."