Educational Studies in the Light of the Feminine

2Governance and Transformation

2.1 Governance at the university

2.1.1. Values and the “must be”

Georges Canguilhem, born in Castelnaudary in the Aude region of France, was a doctor and his philosophical thought was perpetually called upon from a practice, a vital experience, in terms of responsibility, requirements and tasks. His philosophy, as presented by Pierre Macherey, is that of a “must be”, of resistance, as opposed to the idea of being, of ontological necessity and of (a priori limiting) categories. He poses the central question of work and technology, of taking control of life, living conditions and the environment. To live is to risk, to risk yourself. Life is daring.

Between being and one’s must be, between necessities and demands, Canguilhem did not hesitate: he rejected identity (of self and of an environment), essence and necessity in order to be interested in axiological demands. He also did not hesitate to choose between technology as an applied science and technology as vital practical experience. Indeed, technology combines work, control and risk-taking against a backdrop of adventure and resistance, and turns the relationship between knowledge and action upside down. Negativity holds a structuring and decisive place: a position of otherness that makes negativity positive (since it is part of thinking and of the relationship with the environment), through the conflict of values. Life is a normative dynamic, an affirmation of polarities (and oppositions), and ...