Michel Foucault

Hyppolite, Merleau-Ponty and Althusser (who became a pal) all taught him. He attended Lacan’s seminars; Canguilhem supervised his doctoral thesis and stayed a strong supporter. Barraqué was his lover, Deleuze a good friend and colleague, Le Roy Ladurie in the same communist cell. Chomsky knew and liked him, while his friendship with Derrida deteriorated before a final reconciliation. He nominated Barthes for a prestigious chair, while Dreyfus introduced him to an overflowing audience. Sartre and de Beauvoir puzzlingly asked Said to meet them at Foucault’s (who chatted amiably and left).