Oct
21
A Selection From Foucault’s Discipline and Punish
October 21, 2010 | by Ravi Thakral | Tagged Continental Philosophy, Foucault, History of Ideas, Political Philosophy, Power | 1 Comment
Dearest Philosophers,
This Friday we are discussing a selection from:
Michel Foucault’s Discipline and Punish
We will focus our discussion around a short selection out of the last chapter of Discipline and Punish. In this selection we will discuss a very interesting view concerning the nature of the prison in modern society. Foucault points out that many have criticized the prison as a failure. Many have claimed that the prison does not reduce crime, or that the very notion of a prison is counterproductive since the condition of being in prison causes inmates to remain criminal. Many have also claimed that the prison system simply does not correct criminals. But Foucault says that the purpose of a prison is not to reduce crime, but to distinguish it. Foucault argues that the function of the prison system is to isolate delinquents. The prison system sets them apart, observes them, and exploits them. In some sense this very class of people are created by the prison system.
We invite you to our discussion this Friday to discuss some ethics and political philosophy. We will consider Foucault’s views on prison systems and delinquency.
Friday, October 22nd, 2010
4:30PM
Garrison Hall 0.128 (http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/gar.html)
Michel Foucault is considered to be one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th century within the traditions of Continental Philosophy, Post-Structuralism, and Critical Theory. He is the author of The History of Sexuality and Madness and Civilization.
See you Friday!
Ravi Thakral and William Neer
Co-Presidents, UPA
PS: If you aren’t on our listerv, then let us know by sending us an email!
Comments
1 Comment so far
Nice post you have. Interesting!!!
Mike