The Panopticon and Its Disciplines: Samuel and Jeremy Bentham’s Inspection-Houses in Light of Michel Foucault’s Theory of Discipline

Abstract

Michel Foucault identified Jeremy Bentham’s Panopticon as an emblem of disciplinary power characteristic of the modern era. Starting from this well-established premise, the Author delves into the Foucauldian discourse on panoptic discipline. This investigation will reveal a significant difference between Samuel Bentham’s Panopticon-factory and Jeremy Bentham’s Panopticon-prison precisely on the disciplinary level. The analysis will show how the Foucauldian theory of discipline is more closely aligned with the Russian panoptic projects than to those elaborated by the London philosopher in his penal, utilitarian and democratic perspective.