Classificazione e potere in Michel Foucault

The reflection of Michel Foucault encompasses many fields of knowledge and his method of investigation goes well beyond philosophical speculation. After devoting his first works to the subject of the historical character of science, madness and psychiatry, he extended his research to the analysis of the relationship between the production of scientific discourses, the institutions of the modern age and society. However, what is still missing in the critical literature on Foucault is an in-depth analysis of the social role of classification in ordinary life. This is not explicitly addressed by the French author, but it is a central element of his thought. The following article originated from the necessity to study this feature of Foucault’s works as well as to pave the way to future studies on the topic.