Against agamben: Or living your life, zōē versus bios in the late foucault

This chapter lays the philosophical groundwork for understanding bios within its historical context, and in the process, pushes back on the influential work of Agamben in this area. It takes on the possibility that some rearticulations Foucault’s theorization of biopolitics are not beyond misconceptualization. Focus is placed on the terms of zōē and bios as utilized in late work of Foucault in relation to Agamben’s notable and highly influential theorization of these concept categories. This chapter provides both a positive context for understanding Agamben’s biotheory as well as alternative vectors for thinking beyond the biopolitical state and its imaginary.