Deuteronomy and Foucaults Discipline 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

-Deut. 17.12-Anyone disobeying an appointed priest of judge is to be put to death (17.13the people will fear and not act presumptuously again) -Deut. 18.20-Any prophet that speaks according to other gods or against YHVH shall be put to death Questions: -Is Deuteronomy effective in distributing power? In the Foucaultian sense (or in the shift of the 18th century sense), could Deuteronomy be more effective? -What is the connection between the prophet, intimate friend, and town? -How do the blessings promised for keeping the commands and the general curses function? Are these strong motivators? Or is capital punishment the strongest motivation? -If we think of Deuteronomy as a treaty, does this change the way we view the effectiveness of the punishments/blessings?