SOC301H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Kingston Penitentiary, Penitentiary Act, Prison Reform
Document Summary
Foucault on prison origins: history of systems of thought. Prison system of punishment: shift to disciplinary power. Technology of subtle, effective, economic powers in opposition to the sumptuous expenditure of the power of the sovereign . It"s really not feasible to always do something like this, like to hang people. Through disciplinary power, you want people to be self-governing individuals, to align with state-goals, for them to believe it"s in their own interest to do. Work on the soul to get your body to do something. Work on the soul to get your body to be productive and align with the state, seeking to reform the soul. Examine everyone and test everyone to get a sense of what abnormal and normal are. You can then act on the abnormal section. You want to be normal, fit in society. Those who don"t, don"t fit in society, and go to prison.
