Foucault's Influence

Foucault's influence lies in how we understand power and knowledge as intertwined, shaping society and individual behavior. He argued that institutions like prisons, schools, and hospitals do more than enforce rules—they produce knowledge about normality and deviance, controlling us subtly. His ideas encourage us to see power not just as top-down domination but as dispersed through daily practices and discourses. This perspective helps reveal how societal norms influence our identity, beliefs, and choices, prompting critical reflection on authority, social structures, and the ways we are shaped by knowledge systems.