The Order of Things (Les Mots et les Choses)

The Order of Things (Les Mots et les Choses) by Michel Foucault examines how different periods in history organize knowledge and understanding of the world. It explores how humans classify and interpret reality through varying systems—such as classical, modern, and contemporary thought—shaped by cultural, scientific, and philosophical changes. The book shows that what we consider truth or meaningful knowledge is not absolute but depends on the prevailing intellectual framework of a given era. Essentially, it reveals how our ideas about reality are historically constructed and how these shifts influence human self-awareness and societal organization.