Foucault was one of the thinkers who left an indelible mark on the post-World War II era through his theoretical works—which had a profound impact on many different fields, including philosophy, sociology, psychology, history, and politics—as well as his active political life. In 1946, he was admitted to the École Normale Supérieure, one of France’s most prestigious educational institutions, where he studied philosophy and psychology. He also earned degrees in psychopathology and experimental psychology from the Paris Institute of Psychology. He taught at the universities of Clermont-Ferrand, Tunis, and Vincennes, and was appointed to the “History of Systems of Thought” chair—established specifically for him—at the Collège de France, one of France’s most prestigious institutions.
Through his work on topics such as prisons, madness, sexuality, and clinical psychology, he challenged traditional modes of thought deeply rooted in the West, offering a new perspective. Foucault’s work—and in particular the concept of biopower that he developed—has become a key point of reference in many fields, ranging from philosophy to literature, the human sciences, and politics. Foucault passed away in Paris in 1984.