Author Description
At The End Of The Eighteenth Century, Jeremy Bentham Devised A Scheme For A Prison That He Called The Panopticon. It Soon Became An Obsession. For Twenty Years He Tried To Build It; In The End He Failed, But The Story Of His Attempt Offers Fascinating Insights Into Both Bentham's Complex Character And The Ideas Of The Period. Basing Her Analysis On Hitherto Unexamined Manuscripts, Janet Semple Chronicles Bentham's Dealings With The Politicians As He Tried To Put His Plans Into Practice. She Assesses The Panopticon In The Context Of Penal Philosophy And Eighteenth-century Punishment And Discusses It As An Instrument Of The Modern Technology Of Subjection As Revealed And Analysed By Foucault. Her Entertainingly Written Study Is Full Of Drama: At Times It Is Hilariously Funny, At Others It Approaches Tragedy. It Illuminates A Subject Of Immense Historical Importance And Which Is Particularly Relevant To Modern Controversies About Penal Policy.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This study investigates the historical trajectory and philosophical implications of Jeremy Bentham's Panopticon prison design. Janet Semple, an expert in Benthamite studies, utilizes previously unexamined archival manuscripts to reconstruct Bentham's two-decade struggle to implement his architectural vision. The work argues that the Panopticon serves as a critical lens through which to view both the personal motivations of the philosopher and the broader evolution of penal policy and social control in the eighteenth century.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Detailed analysis of Bentham's correspondence and negotiations with eighteenth-century political figures.
- A contextual examination of penal philosophy and the history of punishment.
- An assessment of the Panopticon as a precursor to modern technologies of subjection.
Scope Limits
- The text focuses primarily on the historical implementation attempt rather than a purely theoretical critique of the design.
- It does not provide a comprehensive biography of Bentham beyond his involvement with the prison project.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and historians frequently cite this work as a definitive account of the Panopticon's practical history. Readers note that the prose is accessible and engaging, successfully balancing rigorous archival research with a narrative style that highlights the dramatic elements of Bentham's failed endeavor.
Page Count:
354
Publication Date:
1993-01-01
Publisher:
Clarendon Press
ISBN-10:
0191590819
ISBN-13:
9780191590818
Philosophy
History
Biography
Criminology
Sociology
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