Foucault’s Discipline and Punish

Michel Foucault's "Discipline and Punish" explores the evolution of social control and punishment systems from the brutal public executions of the past to modern imprisonment and surveillance. Foucault argues that power is exercised not through overt force but through subtle mechanisms of discipline that shape behavior. He highlights how institutions like prisons, schools, and hospitals promote conformity and control individuals by shaping their thoughts and actions. Ultimately, the book critiques how societal norms influence our understanding of justice and authority, revealing the pervasive ways that power operates in everyday life.