Judith Butler’s thought has a profound relationship with that of Michel Foucault, and he is often regarded as one of her main influences. Butler’s philosophy builds upon and expands upon many of the ideas that Foucault introduced. In particular, Butler's theory of gender performativity can be seen as a development of Foucault's ideas on power and the relationship between power and knowledge. Additionally, both philosophers reject the idea of a fixed and stable identity, and emphasize the fluidity and constructed nature of identity. Despite their different approaches, Butler's philosophy is heavily influenced by Foucault's work, particularly his ideas on power, discourse, and subjectivity.
Despite their different approaches, Butler's philosophy is heavily influenced by Foucault's work, particularly his ideas on power, discourse, and subjectivity. As aforesaid, Butler's theory of gender performativity can be seen as a development of Foucault's ideas on power and the relationship between power and knowledge. Both philosophers reject the idea of a fixed and stable identity, and emphasize the fluidity and constructed nature of identity. However, Butler's emphasis on language and discourse goes beyond Foucault's ideas. While Foucault also recognized the importance of discourse in shaping social reality, he focused more on the material conditions of power relations. Butler argues that language is not simply a tool for communication, but is constitutive of social reality. This emphasis on language and discourse has been criticized by some as being too focused on language and neglecting material conditions.
Aside from Foucault, Butler's philosophical thought is also influenced by feminist theories, particularly the works of Simone de Beauvoir and Luce Irigaray. Additionally, she draws from queer theory, which challenges traditional notions of gender and sexuality, and post-structuralism, which rejects the idea of fixed and stable meanings. These influences are reflected in her emphasis on the constructed and fluid nature of identity, as well as her exploration of the ways in which power operates through social norms and discourses.