Power, submission, and breaking through existing identities. French philosopher Michel Foucault (1926-1984) wrote about how our identity is connected to the power relations that affect us, such as at a university, in a family, or in a heteronormative society. How is our identity shaped by these power structures? And above all: can we break with existing identities?
- Date
- Wednesday 28 Jan 2026, 16:00 - 17:30
- Type
- Lecture
- Spoken Language
- English
- Location
Erasmus Paviljoen
During the lecture Foucault Now!, Prof. Marli Huijer will explore Michel Foucault's theories of power, his concept of parrhesia (speaking truth), and our fixation on identities. Foucault does not see power as something imposed from above; rather, it is something that operates within and around us, to which we are subjected and which shapes our sense of self or identity. This extends to our daily manners and language use. Is there still room for freedom? Can you talk about yourself differently, tell other truths, and create a different self? Foucault's work can help us to look critically at ourselves and the world around us. To look beyond the present and initiate new ways of being.
Prof. dr. Marli Huijer is emeritus professor of Public Philosophy at the Erasmus School of Philosophy and former Thinker Laureate of the Netherlands. Huijers' research focuses on the philosophy of humanity and culture. She is particularly interested in the question of how people create order. How do we organize time? How do technologies and devices shape public space?
This lecture is organized by Studium Generale.
- More information
Date: Wednesday 28 January 2026
Time: 16:00-17:30 hrs. (Doors open: 15:40 hrs.)
Location: Erasmus Paviljoen
Moderation: Lenya SlierendrechtTicket information
Entrance: Free, reservations highly recommended.
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