What difference does Foucault’s discourse analysis make? Why discourse analysis needs to be based on the concepts of historical epistemology

Abstract

Michel Foucault’s neostructural discourse analysis was developed in the context of the socalled »historical epistemology« (or »French epistemology«). The argument of this contribution is that discourse analysis needs to be based on the core concepts of historical epistemology. These can be conceived of as methodological concepts for Foucault’s discourse analysis. The main concepts as epistemological break, epistemological obstacle and phenomenotechnology are introduced and related to discourse analysis. One consequence is the need of a specific form of hermeneutics, which has to be different from subjectivist and phenomenological forms of interpretation is emphasized. Also, the critique against historical epistemology in France articulated by Bruno Latour as well as the defense of historical epistemology as formulated by Mary Tiles and Pierre Bourdieu is presented. The need for self-objectivation and self-reflection of discourse analysis as method and practice is introduced. The article concludes that, so far, outside of France the main methodological positions of Foucault’s discourse analysis have not been successfully established.