Michel Foucault's The Will to Knowledge is the first part of his influential
trilogy of books on the history of sexuality. He argues that the recent
explosion of discussion about sex in the West means that, far from being
liberated, we are in the process of making a science of sexuality that is
devoted to the analysis of desire rather than the increase of pleasure. This is
a brilliant polemic from a groundbreaking radical intellectual.
Review
“In this absorbing study, Foucault discusses the attitudes toward sexuality
prevalent in Hellenistic Greece and Rome. Classical Greece's view of sex as a
means of obtaining individual pleasure faced increasing challenge in Hellenistic
times. The love of boys now assumed more muted tones, often finding itself at
odds with the highly valued ideals of marital fidelity and virginity. The Stoic
approach, as Foucault demonstrates in a nuanced discussion, both resembled and
differed from the asceticism of Christianity. This volume, perhaps the last that
will appear of the author's posthumous History of Sexuality ( LJ 10/15/78;
12/1/85) manifests Foucault's powerful analytic ability. Though at times it
draws very broad conclusions from the discussion of relatively few texts, it is
still highly recommended.” David Gordon, Social Philosophy & Policy
Ctr., Bowling Green State Univ., Ohio, Library Journal