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Discipline may be identified neither with an institution…

“Discipline may be identified neither with an institution nor with an apparatus; it is a type of power, a modality for its exercise, comprising a whole set of instruments, techniques, procedures, levels of application, targets; it is a 'physics' or 'anatomy' of power, a technology.” quote by Michel Foucault
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“Discipline may be identified neither with an institution nor with an apparatus; it is a type of power, a modality for its exercise, comprising a whole set of instruments, techniques, procedures, levels of application, targets; it is a 'physics' or 'anatomy' of power, a technology.”

Michel Foucault

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Discipline functions as a technology of power, employing various techniques and instruments to shape behavior.

In simple terms: Discipline is a tool of power.

Key Takeaway

Analyze how power structures influence behavior.

Themes

power discipline technology

Mood

analytical critical

Type

philosophical theoretical

When to use this quote

  • workplace management
  • education policy
  • law enforcement

Key Concepts

biopolitics surveillance social control

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does discipline appear in everyday life?
  • What limits its effectiveness?
A Different Perspective

The concept can be abstract and hard to apply concretely.

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