Contributions of the Michel Foucault’s genealogy to Bioethics: methodological aspects for the study of bio-power devices

Abstract

Some bioethicist has used the theoretical and methodological contributions of the Michel Foucault work in his studies. However, there are few bioethical studies on the methodological aspects of Foucault’s genealogy. The article aims to show these aspects as a contribution to bioethics, especially concerning the study of biopower devices. To do so, Foucault concepts are presented as well as the methodological precautions concerning the genealogy. It begins with a contextualization of the author’s work, problematizes the passage from archeology to genealogy, displays peculiarities of genealogy as a method for analyzing the exercise of power, and after, expatiates on discipline and biopolitics as ways of exercising power over life (biopower). Finally, an example of genealogical analysis of biopower devices is presented: the genealogical analysis of ethical guidelines for research involving human subjects expressed in the Declaration of Helsinki under biopolitics scope.