Michel Foucault argues that the reforms in punishment, such as ending torture and establishing prisons, did not lessen the severity of punishment but rather transformed its object. Instead of focusing on the physical suffering of the condemned, modern punishment targets the prisoner's "soul." This shift moves punishment from the spectacle of the body to the internal reformation and surveillance of the individual. The book traces the historical transition from public physical punishment to the more insidious, pervasive forms of control found in the modern penitentiary.
This work demonstrates how the abolition of torture and the rise of the penitentiary represent a fundamental change in penal practices. It highlights the transformation of punishment from an overt, corporeal act to a disciplinary mechanism that operates on the internal self. Readers will understand how the modern prison emerged as a site for the soul's subjugation and reformation.
Key concepts
- Abolition of torture — The historical ending of physical torture as a primary method of punishment.
- Emergence of the modern penitentiary — The development and establishment of contemporary prison systems.
- Punishment of the body — The focus of older penal systems on inflicting physical pain and suffering on the prisoner's physical form.
- Punishment of the soul — The focus of modern penal systems on reforming or controlling the inner self, will, and psyche of the prisoner.