The ill body. Between power and rebellion Cover Image

The ill body. Between power and rebellion
The ill body. Between power and rebellion

Author(s): Katarzyna Dworakowska
Subject(s): Contemporary Philosophy, Health and medicine and law
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe ChAT
Keywords: hospital apparatus; discipline; profanation; illness; subjectifi cation; Foucault; counter-apparatus;

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the issue of the ill body from two perspectives which are at the same time two parts of this paper. The first one which follows Michel Foucault, concerns production of the specific type of the subject, namely the patient and includes a scrutiny of the hospital as a disciplinary apparatus. The goal of the second part is to analyse illness as a counter-apparatus which undermines any given order. I argue that power, violence, the process of subjectification and a way of eluding their moulding force are reflected in the issue of the ill body. For the ill body simultaneously is extremely vulnerable (as something that needs to be fixed) and invulnerable (because of the rebellious ‘nature’ of illness) to the apparatus investments.

  • Issue Year: XIV/2023
  • Issue No: 2 (43)
  • Page Range: 309-326
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: English