Power Within Society Discussion

Michel Foucault uses Bentham’s plan for the Panopticon prison as a metaphor for a “disciplinary” society –that is, for social arrangements in which regimes of constant observation or observability, on-going record-keeping, and binary classification schemes (normal/abnormal, citizen/criminal, sane/insane, etc.)lead individuals to regulate their own behavior.Is he right about this? Can you identify other “panoptic” schemes, situations, or institutions in contemporary societies?

Paper must include the following elements:

– An Introduction, in which you state your thesis clearly. What is important and problematic about the issue you will be discussing, and what is controversial about the thesis you will defend? Who are some of the people or social constituencies that have a stake in the issue you identify?

– A Body, which lays out your argument. What are the reasons that support your thesis? What evidence helps to substantiate your reasons? Do you rely on the authority of experts who have written previously on your chosen topic (and if so, where does their own authority and expertise come from)? In general, why should the reader agree with your main thesis?

– A Defense of your thesis against likely criticisms, and an explanation of why those criticisms fail.