Before and After Psychopathology: A Foucault- Inspired Perspective on Western Knowledge Concerning the Shaman
Fourth World Journal August 13, 2025 Tony B. Benning 3 citations
This paper outlines key stages in how Western academia has constructed the figure of the shaman and the concept of shamanism, and it identifies factors that have shaped those constructions. Drawing on Michel Foucault's ideas of episteme, knowledge, and power, the author argues that a Foucault-inspired analysis—though not a rigid methodology—offers a powerful lens for revealing hidden agendas, power dynamics, and priorities in the Western portrayal of shamans. The analysis is open-ended and makes no claim to absolute truth, which aligns with postmodern views of knowledge. The paper notes that despite Foucault's influence on postcolonial studies, his thought has been underused in examining Western-indigenous relations, and it suggests that further engagement with his work would benefit postcolonial scholarship.