tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245381193993153721.post8193433920006884844..comments2024-03-28T17:08:15.784-07:00Comments on Social Democracy for the 21st Century: A Realist Alternative to the Modern Left: Foucault’s Discipline and Punish: A Summary and CritiqueLord Keyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06556863604205200159noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245381193993153721.post-51527528191376589852015-04-14T23:33:42.664-07:002015-04-14T23:33:42.664-07:00"The evidence shows that the number of crimes...<i>"The evidence shows that the number of crimes punished by the death penalty actually increased right down to the early 19th century..."<br /><br />>>Per capita or in absolute terms?</i><br /><br />In the UK the absolute number of crimes that carried the death penalty:<br /><br />1688: 50<br />1765: 160<br />1815: 225<br /><br />The source is Radzinowicz, A History of English Criminal Law, vol. I, pp. 4-5, p. 155.Lord Keyneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06556863604205200159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245381193993153721.post-81814260952611552022015-04-14T14:14:09.642-07:002015-04-14T14:14:09.642-07:00"The evidence shows that the number of crimes..."The evidence shows that the number of crimes punished by the death penalty actually increased right down to the early 19th century..."<br /><br />Per capita or in absolute terms? Careful with your stats there, LK. Especially when quoting hostile sources. <br /><br />Also, what are we counting? Are we counting the burning of witches? That would be enormous.<br /><br />Also, torture per capita. Did it rise or fall?<br /><br />How does the overall statistical picture bear on Foucault's thesis?<br /><br />Hmm. These are difficult and nuanced questions. They require more effort than engaging in confirmation bias by quoting hostile sources.<br /><br />Firm up your scholarship please.<br /><br />"Finally, we have the omnipresent problem in Foucault’s work: if we take seriously his idea that there are no objective truths, then why would anyone take seriously as objectively true any explanation Foucault has to offer about the emergence of the modern penal system?"<br /><br />Very clever point. That really hit home with me. Solid critique. Good show.Philnoreply@blogger.com