There are several ways to discuss how the work of Michel Foucault has been used in educational philosophy and theory. After retracing some of the main references and debates, this contribution clarifies how Foucault discusses two traditions in philosophy – the analytic and the existential-ethical – in order to locate himself within the second, the existential-ethical tradition. This perspective allows us to explore Foucault's relevance for philosophy of education at the level of philosophical ethos. This raises the question of the extent to which Foucault was often circling around educational issues, without really focusing on education.