Foucault

Upon reading Foucault’s piece on Discipline and Punish, Panopticism, I immediately had to  look up the word “panopticism.” It is a word I have never heard before and this is  definitely the opportunity to learn a new word.  This  “social theory” is new to me and I  think Foucault thoroughly explains it. I understand that this theory requires attention at all  times and must be enforced all the way through.  In my opinion, the theory constricts and  instead of creating some kind of balance, it actually creates an even bigger rift.  The idea of disciplining people by force does not seem ethical, but in stories like this it  seems like ethics are thrown out the window. Controlling society does not at all promote  discipline but I believe promotes fear.   The place described on Foucault’s piece is more like a prison. The “panopticon” was  invented to constrict society in order to create equality and balance but really it  relinquishes individuality and objection. This is unnecessary supervision.   This certain supervision is reminiscent of tyranny and utopias need some degree of  tyranny to succeed. The succession, I believe is the overall discipline of the state or  society.  From my understanding, the piece is reminds me of some kind of prelude to tyranny and  socialism. Foucault’s rather long and descriptive piece emphasizes different mediums of  discipline and conveys that discipline should be forced. I do not agree with Foucault but I  can see where he is headed and what he is trying to convey.