On Foucault's Theory Of Self-cultivation

Foucault pursues a kind of philosophical practice which connects the self-cultivatioi and truth. Foucault’s research process possesses the quality of periodical span which reflect in the transformation from intellectual research to subject research and living environmenta condition to existence aesthetics of human beings. Based on the analysis of cultivating one’s morality in ancient technology, Foucault has made the further exposition, from which we car see that his research has got rid of the shackles of power and turned to the aesthetics o existence. If one wants to become a free man, he must first know self and care about self, and then make self as his own. Foucault makes clear that the history about "technology" and "self-concern" is a kind of way in which creating the subjectivity history,......,which comes into being and then gets its transformation in our culture through the "relationship with self", technical framework and intellectual effect. Foucault intends to cultivate the complete and profound self-relationship and the competence to cope with all the possible factors existing in the future through advocating the spiritual practice, by which, ultimately, make the subject honest, self-conscious and ethical. In short, one should pursue the living state "for their own ", from the aspect of which, therefore, Foucault aims at breaking the boundaries of philosophy and life and achieve a kind of ego dominating existence aesthetics under the enlightment of truth. The profound approach to cultivate one’s morality is the essential part of Foucault’s existence aesthetics. Different from shaping the subject by power passively, cultivating one’s morality is a kind of fulfillment conducting actively by subject self, which leads to the sanctuary of truth. Foucault makes clear that the purpose of cultivating one’s morality practice is to find self, liberate self, and then return to self. In the meantime, one obtains his own subjectification and integrity through a series of technologies in the process of practice and training. As a kind of art, the purpose of cultivating one’s morality is to establish a harmonious relationship between individual and self, and the individual shouldn’t confine self and his own subjectivity to the range of power. Self-existence is not passive but active, and the process of power enforcement directing at oneself reflects a certain transformation from subjectification to artistry. In addition, cultivating one’s morality is a kind of art which is philosophical, life-long and comprehensive, rather than temporary, periodical, or partial, can’t completely according to a kind of model, also can not give up halfway. It confronts trials and tribulations of life, and one must conduct self-education constantly and care about self profoundly in order to face those difficulties and obstacles. In a word, one should pursue a kind of "philosophical temperament of spirit".