Discipline and Punish

The Birth of the Prison

Michel Foucault

The book traces the evolution of the modern penal system, examining how disciplinary power has shifted from the spectacle of public execution to the surveillance and normalization of prisoners. It explores the relationship between power, knowledge, and social control, and how this dynamic is exemplified in the prison system, which serves as a microcosm for society at large.

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Madness and Civilization

A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason

Michel Foucault

The book traces the cultural evolution of the perception and treatment of mental illness in Europe from the Middle Ages to the modern era, arguing that the concept of madness has been shaped by social and political forces, leading to the marginalization and institutionalization of the mentally ill. It examines the shift from a world where the mad were integrated into society to one where they were isolated and subjected to medicalization and moral judgment.

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