Question

Explain and specifically define all of Foucault’s phases of punishment. Providing real world examples, discuss whether you agree or disagree that we have entered into a disciplinary society. What role does technology have to play in these phases?

Answer 1

Michel Foucault , a famous French philosopher is well known for his writing ‘Surveiller et Punir: Naissance de la Prison’ (Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison) published in 1975. Here Faucault has said that phases of punishment has changed from torture to imprisonment. He observes and states that previously in a society, criminals were more tortured, such as beheaded , hanging in public, throwing stones etc. But in modern era this spectacle has become trial and a resulting sentence.Previously punishment system was focussing on the body , now it is focussing on soul.All modern era federal laws are written in such a way that a criminal will receive more of harsh and brutal experience such as 10 to 100 years of imprisonment than any benefit. His will to live a free life is taken away.

Now I shall site 2 examples which has implications from foucaults theory of punishment making us more disciplined. For instance, most of us would love to drive car fastly and freely. If there are no traffic rules or any surveillance speed camera as to catch us while driving speed, many of us could loose life or end up in life threatening situation. Here we have a fear inside that driving speedly through an area with camera can cause us loose money and traffic rule breaking punishments. Similarly let me state another example. CCTV cameras are now a days seen very common in most shops. The mere presence of this object makes all visitors think that they are being watched. This mere thought can prevent instigation of habits such as robbery in some individuals.

In both these examples we find that the treatment is done more psychologically than physically as to make us disciplined.I totally agree with this mode of punishment. However there are many loopholes in punishment laws which need to be fixed. A person is declared as innocent unless proven guilty , although he has produced fabricated proofs which are hard to identify. Modern tools such as lie detectors should be used effectively with 100% accuracy which can help find actual truth and punish the real guilty one rather than allowing him/her to escape from law loopholes with some clever lawyer.