The radical fool of capitalism

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Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) is known as the founder of utilitarianism and the creator of the Panopticon, a prison design that allows for constant surveillance by an unseen observer, later analyzed by Michel Foucault as emblematic of neoliberal control. In this volume of the Untimely Meditation series, Christian Welzbacher presents a fresh interpretation of Bentham, suggesting that his "radical foolery" reflects a unique social ethics deserving of historical context rather than modern critique. Welzbacher examines Bentham's two major lifelong projects: the Panopticon and the Auto-Icon. He argues that the Panopticon, often misinterpreted by Foucault, Orwell, and Lacan, was envisioned by Bentham as a pedagogical tool that harmonized reason, architecture, and politics. Bentham's praise for the Panopticon echoes the sentiments of modernist architects like Le Corbusier. The Auto-Icon illustrates Bentham's belief that the deceased should contribute to future generations, a notion solidified by his decision to have his body preserved and displayed, which can still be viewed at University College London. He also donated his internal organs to science, a practice illegal at the time, and orchestrated his own ceremonial autopsy posthumously.