“White” and “black” genealogy

The subject of the present article is the contrasting genealogical approaches of Charles Taylor and Michel Foucault in understanding the socio-constitutive role of self-interpretations and world interpretations in shaping social reality. While Taylor's genealogy underlines moral aspirations and contradictions of modernity, Foucault's genealogy uncovers the power dynamics and constraints inherent in these aspirations. My proposal is a “gray” genealogy that integrates both perspectives and allows for a nuanced understanding of modern socio-historical conditions and the exploration of viable alternatives. The case of autonomy and authenticity in the context of social acceleration illustrates how Taylor’s and Foucault’s genealogies can be applied to critique contemporary society, denoting the relevancy of a combined approach enabling a more profound and balanced critique of modernity.