The Philosophical Methodology of Geneaology - 1395 Words

The philosophical methodology of genealogy is not a holistic idea, but rather a perspectival type of history that aims to deconstruct the origins and deeper meanings of historical events. Fueled by Nietzsche’s sense of deconstruction, Foucault also sought to deconstruct all metaphysical ideas and disregard the belief of perpetual truths. His idea of genealogy operates under the assumption that the facts are to be interpreted as opposed to accepted, for facts can be created by the will to truth, or the need for truth at any price. This concept originally belonged to Nietzsche, borrowed and expanded on by Foucault. Foucault provides greater insight to genealogy thanks to the work of Nietzsche, applying the concept to rituals of power and focusing on genealogy as a method where Nietzsche did not. Nietzsche described genealogy as uncovering a metaphorical gray area of a past that is neither black nor white. Thus, this investigation of details leads to an interpretation that cannot be accepted as fact or fiction. Foucault made the distinction that the genealogist realizes that their interpretation is itself gray, fully understanding their place in history and having the ability to examine situations from afar instead of from within, demonstrating detachment. He knew that by refusing to believe in metaphysics, he could utilize genealogy as a history to trace the meaning of origins, or metaphysical truths, to find something different than the actual history. Nietzsche’s genealogy