Genealogies of Dissent and the Politics of Knowledge

Abstract

This chapter examines the relationship between the intellectual projects of eighteenth century thinkers and political authorities. The chapter argues that, in almost all the examined cases, eighteenth century thinkers conceived of their intellectual undertakings as subversive and dissenting ones, both in relation to political authorities and to established corporate intellectual authorities. This chapter extends the analysis from the intellectual/cultural sphere to the social/political one. The primary example examined in this chapter is the career of Shawkani and his complex relationship to power.