Episode #186 - Are we heading for a digital prison?
Are we heading for a digital prison?
Key Takeaways:
Jeremy Bentham's Panopticon Concept: Bentham, a philosopher from the 1780s, designed the Panopticon, a prison structure allowing unseen observation of inmates, leading to self-regulation. This concept reflects the power dynamics of society, where visibility and surveillance create control.
Michel Foucault's Expansion on the Panopticon: Foucault, in his 1975 book "Discipline and Punish", explores how the Panopticon's principles apply broadly in society. He argues that societal norms and knowledge are controlled by those in power, leading people to self-police their behavior to conform.
Intelligence as a Means of Control: Philosopher Stephen Cave discusses how intelligence historically justified societal hierarchies and control, influencing everything from governance to the justification of colonialism and eugenics.
Free Will and Decision-Making: Cave also delves into the nature of free will, proposing a "Freedom Quotient" to quantify decision-making freedom. He suggests free will involves generating options, choosing among them, and pursuing chosen options, each requiring different skills.
Recommended Reading:
Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison by Michel Foucault: Explores the transformation of social and penal systems and the birth of the modern prison.
Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason by Michel Foucault: Foucault examines the history of Western attitudes toward madness, showing how it has been linked to social and intellectual changes.
Immortality: The Quest to Live Forever and How It Drives Civilization by Stephen Cave: Cave explores humanity's historical and ongoing quest for immortality, discussing its impact on civilization and culture.
See the full transcript here.
Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast a possibility in the future.
I could never do this without your support! :)
