7/30/2019 Deuteronomy and Foucault Presentation Handout

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Deuteronomy and FoucaultsDiscipline and Punish

Nick Elder

01.26.2012

The Iliff School of Theology

A crime is committed because it procures certain advantages.-Michel Foucault

-In Little Rock it is illegal to honk a car horn after 9 P.M. at a sandwich shop.

-In Arizona hunting camels is illegal.-In L.A. it is illegal to lick toads.

-In Aspen it is illegal to throw snowballs at people or buildings.

-In Boulder it is illegal to keep couches on porches or anywhere outside. (Important Note:Due to 4/20)

-In Louisville, CO it is illegal to have any chickens (or other cattle), but is legal to have

up to three geese, ducks, turkeys, or combination thereof.

-In Arizona it is illegal to refuse someone a glass of water.

-In Sterling, CO cats may not run loose without having been fit with a taillight (literally).-In Arkansas it is illegal to mispronounce the states name in legal proceedings.

-In Nashville roller skaters must proceed in single file.-In Ohio its illegal to cut off the tail of a horse.

Source: realstrangelaws.com

For penal semiotics to cover the whole field of illegalities that one wishes to eliminate,

all offences must be defined; they must be classified and collected into species from

which none of them can escape.-Michel Foucault

-Overview of Foucault-What are illegalities?

-What was the shift of punishment in the 18th century?

-Is capital punishment, in Foucaults view, less effective? (pg. 95)-How is the new form of punishment more effective?

-Helpful summary: the punishments must be a school rather than a festival; an ever-open

book rather than a ceremony. (111)-What is the intention of punishment?

-Punishment and Deuteronomy 12-18-Deut. 13.5-Prophets shall be put to death for enticement

-Deut. 13.8-The intimate friend who entices Israel shall be shown no compassion, your

hand first shall go out against them, then the hand of all Israel-by means of stoning

-Deut. 13.14-17-A town that has been led astray is to be put to the sword, everything in it

is to be destroyed; all of the booty from the town is burned and becomes perpetual ruin

-Deut. 17.5-7-If a breach of covenant occurs by any man or woman who goes to serve

other gods, they should be put to death

7/30/2019 Deuteronomy and Foucault Presentation Handout

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