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'Gray, meticulous and patently documentary': Foucaultian historical methods and the patent system
Journal article   Peer reviewed

'Gray, meticulous and patently documentary': Foucaultian historical methods and the patent system

C. Dent
Journal of Sociology, Vol.47(3), pp.297-312
2011
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Abstract

Patents are seen as a key part of the modern economy and operate as a mode of regulation of technology and innovation. The histories of the system, to date, have not explored the role that patents have in the governance of our society. This article suggests that the historical methods of Michel Foucault are broad enough to undertake this task. The article, then, explores both the archaeological and the genealogical methods in order to assess the benefits, and limitations, that arise from the use of each of them in the context of a history of the laws, and practices, as they relate to patents of invention.

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Citation topics
6 Social Sciences
6.269 Political Philosophy
6.269.2243 Neoliberal Critique
Web Of Science research areas
Sociology
ESI research areas
Social Sciences, general
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