Abstract

the paper intends to highlight the meaningful Foucault´s research on power in the late 1970s. The interaction among historical events, disciplines and subjectivity gives dimension to the incipient notion of biopower on his work. In order to understand the main goal of Foucault in those years (the present), it also makes use of the difference established between two conceptions of power: the medieval power of killing and its contrast to the modern power of making live. Such disparity puts the constitution of our subjectivity in question, allowing a parallel to be drawn with the matter of sovereignty, according to the traditional concept of power, and the case of security proposed by Foucault´s innovative conception. When propositions are not coincidental, a window of thinking opens up to our judgment and, ultimately, the only thing that rests is try to thing again.

Keywords: Foucault, power, population, history.