Genealogy (philosophy)

In philosophy, genealogy is a historical technique that questions commonly understood accounts of how philosophical and social beliefs emerged. It seeks to account for the scope, breadth or totality of discourse, and often examines the conditions that make a discourse possible, particularly in Michel Foucault's genealogies. Developed as a continuation of Friedrich Nietzsche's work, it differs from Marxist ideology critique by not centering a singular dominant discourse. It can trace a concept's changing setting, meaning and social basis.

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Type

Historical technique in philosophy

Intellectual development

Continuation of Friedrich Nietzsche's works

Example use

Tracing a concept's changing setting and social basis