Foucault On Parrresia

Foucault pointed out that in order to be a true parrhesiast one need not participate directly in the political activities. Parresia as an obligation to speak the truth requires fruitful consequences. On the contrary, the parrhesiastes well being is always at risk in their truth-telling discourse whether it is in a democratic, an autocratic or an oligarchic regime. For instance, Socrates preferred to live a quite life without getting involved in the political activities. He was a parrhesiast who would only tell the truth even at the cost of his life. He neither listened to the higher authority nor completed the tasks assigned to him and yet he still exercised parresia outside the assemblies and courts. When one practices parresia, he speaks