Apparent punishment outweighs real suffering whenever the innocent outnumber the punished.
Evidence
First, what exactly is punishment? Suffering, the experience of pain or loss of pleasure. The paradox of Bentham’s punishment, which is intended for all the others rather than for the punished individual, is therefore evident: in punishment, it is only the punished individual (that is, the one for whom the punishment is not intended) who suffers pain, whereas the punishment acts upon all others (those for whom it is specifically intended) exclusively through its external appearance. This means that appearance (apparent punishment, apparent suffering) outweighs reality (real punishment, real suffering) whenever the number of the innocent exceeds one. The principal object of punishment, the deterrence of the innocent, is therefore achieved by means of appearance itself, that is, by raising the idea of punishment in the minds of the innocent. — Jeremy Bentham, The Panopticon Writings, 14
Categorization
- XREF: Same logic the reader’s thesis needs: the mere idea of surveillance does the work, not the surveillance itself — parallels the telescreen’s omnipresent possibility of being watched. — connects to: Punishment is designed to maximize apparent suffering while minimizing real pain. — Jeremy Bentham, The Panopticon Writings, 15; Feigned punishment could deter crime without real suffering — Jeremy Bentham, The Panopticon Writings, 28; Staged ceremony can substitute for added real punishment to deter others. — Jeremy Bentham, The Panopticon Writings, 16 (+2 more)
Related
- Punishment is designed to maximize apparent suffering while minimizing real pain. (similarity 0.87)
- Feigned punishment could deter crime without real suffering (similarity 0.87)
- Penalty operates through the idea of pain, not pain itself (similarity 0.84)
- Staged ceremony can substitute for added real punishment to deter others. (similarity 0.84)
- The real target of punishment is potential offenders, not the convict himself (similarity 0.80)
- Punishment deters when its expected cost merely exceeds crime’s benefit (similarity 0.79)
- Punishment’s deterrent power migrated from visible spectacle to certainty of apprehension (similarity 0.79)
Broader Connections
- Punishment is designed to maximize apparent suffering while minimizing real pain.
#expands(0.85) — Jeremy Bentham, The Panopticon Writings, 15 - Feigned punishment could deter crime without real suffering
#expands(0.80) — Jeremy Bentham, The Panopticon Writings, 28