The History of Sexuality: 3

The third volume in Michel Foucault's The History of Sexuality series, now reissued in the prestigious Penguin Modern Classics, continues the philosopher's revolutionary exploration of how power, knowledge, and pleasure intersect within Western societies. Foucault delves into the Golden Age of Rome, contrasting it with classical Greek traditions, to uncover a significant transformation in the conception and regulation of sexual pleasure.

In The History of Sexuality: 3, Foucault meticulously investigates the moral and ethical reflections of Roman philosophers and physicians. Through this examination, he reveals an increasing concern over sexual freedom and the burgeoning implications of sexual behaviour on the individual's moral standing and societal duties. Central to this shift is the development of the concept of 'the care of the self', an ethos that frames the self as an object of continuous cultivation and ethical scrutiny.

This volume is key to understanding Foucault's broader interrogation of the ways in which societies regulate and interpret sexual behaviour. By presenting an in-depth analysis of the prevailing moral discourses of the time, Foucault demonstrates how the ethos of self-care not only informs personal ethics but also shapes broader social dynamics and power structures. The need for self-knowledge and the continuous shaping of one's own identity become crucial themes that resonate far beyond the historical context of Rome.

Foucault's work remains indispensable for those intrigued by the historical foundations of modern conceptions of sexuality, ethics, and self-identity. This third instalment is not just a continuation but a pivotal piece of Foucault's broader project, offering profound insights into the ancient roots of our contemporary understanding of the self and its moral imperatives.