Panopticism by Michel Foucault - Scholarship Essay Example

Panopticism by Michel Foucault The banking concept and Panoptism use different approaches to relay a similar informationto the public. Generally, the authors Paulo Freire and Michel Foucault offer dissimilar ideologies that also support one another. Hence, I present an argument that essays about banking concept and panoptism respectively show real events in the contemporary learning environments yet from different schools of thought. In this essay, I discuss the differing standpoints of the two philosophers as presented in the essays. Moreover, I try to establish the points of connections in the thinking based on the rhetorical questions entailed within the essays. Throughout, the essay outlines the areas of differences and agreements in relation to the learning contexts. Hence, this work provides insights about opportunities and dilemmas presented of the two authors based on the following approaches. Summary Panopticism by Michel Foucault Panopticism refers to a society in which inhabitants progressively find themselves alienated in systems or structures of power and credibility. Likewise, the systems serve as a crucial determinant of social control. In most situations, a panoptic society also means a community that applies a top dwn approach to internalize social norms and expectations. Normally, the internalization of norms creates a situation in which citizens’ act with suspicion and precautions. The inbuilt notion is that the society produces a surveillance system, which can include the law or government enforcement executives, surveillance cameras, or the services of other agents like police whom the established institutions also watch their tracks. As human characters in a society become standardized, public prospects soon transforms into the private scope where the expectations are no longer appropriate (Kaplan 264). For example, the society places differing interests on the students’ performance in school. The child respect, assist and perform better in course work. The public expectations mean designate the power and nature of surveillance considered by the society. What this indicates is the power and nature of self-surveillance. However, the adopted discourse enters into the secluded sphere that does not support surveillance from other. The panopticon shows influence of punishment and discipline in the current society, especially in schools and homes. Generally, this essay visualizes the structure of authority in the society. A keen analysis elaborates the process of examination and observations based on the society issues. The knowledge of panopticon exists through contrasts. In school context, the divergence occurs between execution and timetable. To begin with, Foucault analyzed an interesting text about plague events instead of actual accounts of plagues in order to explain the close links between reality and text. Evidently, the plague offered image for representation of mechanisms for discipline but not the loss of order. In fact, the restoration order formed the basis for public killing. Suggestively, Foucault espouses panopticon as a symbol for discipline in the society. Therefore, panopticon provides the background that facilitates watching, tracking and analyzing individual characters. In the school set up and evolution of learning, panipticon is the punishment through which the administration observes every student, it also makes school operations simple to perform. The advancements in education, exam irregularities, and trust facilitate the development of surveillance systems, just like the development of plagues. Plagues protected the society against oppressions and disorders. Equally, panopticon allows the efficient implementation of power. It is also important to acknowledge that authority and punishments are components of a functional and existing community structure. The transitions and interplays between the two aspects represent community tactic that value discipline according to examination and observation. However, the disciplinary culture does not necessarily have a panopticon at every level. Rather, it entails the presence of institutional controls and rampant use of devices like coercion in all circumstances. Therefore, the evolution of a disciplinary society should comprise of clear analysis of demographic components of a society such as social and economic factors. The Banking Concept of Education The banking concept greatly helped in the evolution of present education practices. The Banking concept of education explicates on the difficulties of the current system, and provides best practices that can effectively shape the learning and teaching challenges in the classroom. According to Freire, the defective conception entails the oppressive delivery of enlightening information by tutors to the learners. Therefore, in order to revolutionize and improve the learning standards, all stakeholders including teachers should avoid unconsciousness in classroom duties. In addition, teachers should eliminate the provision of fabricated scholarly encouragement. However, the difference in learning and perception of information by students depends on the variances and anti-autonomous concepts of banking and problem posing concepts. Thus, Freire explains the concept as a factor, which obstructs the intellectual development of learners. Bad teaching methods turn students into figurative learners commonly called receptors and collector of knowledge while lacking the actual link with the events in life. Discussion about the essays Banking concept in education and panopticism In common, both essays present cases that portray similarities between prisons, schools, factories, barracks, and hospitals. The analysis is not a surprising phenomenon because all the mentioned institutions in one way or another entail social surveillance, tracking and observations by the management. However, the degree of surveillance usually differs based on severity of the circumstances. All the observations, punishments, and even warnings in the mentioned institutions help to instill order and discipline. Inherent in Freires banking concept is an outstanding supposition of a contradiction between world and the human beings. Hence, it is conclusive to conclude that people an individual lives in the world (Bhattacharya 236). The notion helps to explain the role of man in the maintenance of order and peace. It also explains that every person is responsible for his or her own good and bad behaviors. However, the society places some level of expectation on the person; every bad behavior attracts a consequence in return. In this line, not every person is a conscious being. Instead, man is a holder of a consciousness on an empty mind that normally is open to gaining useful information through learning process. In the defense of similarity of between social institutions, both panopticism and banking concept of education inflicts a schism among citizens. Particularly, the essays outline relationships and authorities of administrators or managers in maintaining direction in a group of people. Thus, the essays connect individualism to actual world and experiences like punishments. The evolutions in normal surroundings evidently explain the expiration of personal consciousness as highlighted by Foucault’s concept. In this view, common assumption about the roles of educators as depositors and schoolchildren as receptors is wrong. Surveillance forms the backbone of success of every institutions. Likewise, students require close observation and guidance to improve their grades. However, unlike Foucault, Freire’s adds an ideology that emphasizes on the autonomy, rationalization habits, and conceptual information of every person. The efficient would offer a lasting solution to the world problems. Thus, Freires concept significantly improves order yet, it minimizes discipline and excessive surveillance. The disregard of individual and social autonomy fuels oppression, coercion, and undesirable punishments. Both the essays aim to reduce social disorders or enhance learning environments. Panopticism stresses the use of punishments. However, concept of education presented eases dehumanization through empowerment. In this context, Freire aims to liberate students from old-fashioned learning processes. I believe this is a quality response to Foucault’s fears and assertions of punishment and constant surveillance. Thus, Freire seeks to save the students and offer students the important freedom to make their own choices. Concept of education promotes problem amicable solution of challenges in institutions, instead of holding managerial positions, observing employees and issuing warnings and punishments, Freire introduces a new approach that encourages dialogue amelioration in order to determine an understand everyone’s perspectives and knowledge (244). Freire’s answer to Foucaults concerns In response to panopticism, concept of education forms an honest system through mutual understanding, questioning, dialogue, and information sharing by students and society members. Unlike the common assumption that people in power are superior, Freire advocates for mutual relations in the society. The evolution sponsored by Freire provides an environment in which students and teachers, managers and employees and prisoners and warders relate in a mutual manner. In as much as Freire advanced the revolution, Freire unsuccessfully observed the persistence within the systems of classroom. He also never considered the power imbalance power that exists in the society for instance, the relationships between students and teachers. Essentially, teachers are usually the authority and it is hard to reverse the fact. Therefore, Freire partly did not fully answer Foucault. Argument that might trump Freires optimism Although Freire desires for transformations in the public institutions, Foucault identified the presence of panopticism in most social of the social life places including schools, barracks, industries, and prisons. Therefore, panopticism is a common problem. Freire on the other hand fails to provide a comprehensive framework for addressing the challenge in all the spheres of life. Correspondingly, the society expects students, soldiers, and workers to show respect for the seniors. Freire aims to achieve the freedom students while he does not offer a mechanism for dealing with the unruly. In addition, the nature of work that certain institutions perform requires the adoption of panopting style of discipline and proper surveillance of the environs and individuals for example the secret service and military. The approach enhances control and security of the country (Weiser, Fehler and González 87). Thus, dialogue and other substitute ways of management and maintaining order in the society are not applicable in these fields. One would also argue that panopticism is relevant for maintaining control in the modern society. The current society entails global threats due to terrorism, population growth, and urbanization. Therefore, Foucault’s approach offers the only solution for containing bad characters, Conclusion In conclusion, the ideologies contrast but have the same mission, which is enhancing social relations and harmony. Both Foucault and Freire methodologies of interpersonal relations help the society, teachers to analyze common concerns in the education system. Based on the the essays, the harmony in addressing disorder caused by differences in understanding creates social development. The negotiation between managers, teachers, prison warders and their subordinates encourages proper communication, and alternative problem solving approaches. Thus, it is clear that punishment, surveillance, and observations supported by panopticism is outdated. The humanity possesses intrinsic values to enable amicable problem solving. In this instance, teachers should empower their students to develop strategies for problem solving. In addition, changing times require that people must adjust to become relevant. Freires model is more appropriate in addressing the developing need s facilitated by developments. Articulation of Freire’s and Foucaul’s model in management can increase offers the prospects of a well-structured society. In either way, both investigations tap into the culture process and can possibly develop a creative environment that endures sustainable development. Works cited Bhattacharya, Asoke. Paulo Freire: Rousseau of the Twentieth Century. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers, 2011. Print. Kaplan, David M. Readings in the Philosophy of Technology. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2009. Print. Weiser, M E, Fehler, B, and González, A, M,. Engaging Audience: Writing in an Age of New Literacies. Urbana, Ill: National Council of Teachers of English, 2009. Print. Read More