The Archaeology of Knowledge (by Michel Foucault)

"The Archaeology of Knowledge" by Michel Foucault explores how knowledge and ideas are shaped by historical and social contexts. He argues that what we consider "truth" or "knowledge" is influenced by the ways we organize language, concepts, and discourses at different times. Rather than viewing knowledge as a straightforward accumulation, Foucault examines the underlying structures—called "archaeologies"—that determine how knowledge is produced, maintained, and changed. This helps us understand that knowledge is not fixed but contingent, shaped by the systems of thought and power relations within a particular era.