"Any individual, taken almost at random, can operate the machine: in the absence of the director, his family, his friends, his visitors, even his servants (Bentham, 45). Similarly, it does not matter what motive animates him: the curiosity of the indiscreet, the malice of a child, the thirst for knowledge of a philosopher who wishes to visit this museum of human nature, or the perversity of those who take pleasure in spying and punishing" (Panopticism, 202).

This passage brings up the concept of punishment in the Panopticon; Foucault states that anyone is capable of inflicting punishment. However, this brought to mind the question: are the captives aware of the possibility of punishment and to what extent? Do they know what punishment is waiting for them if they were to step out of line, and furthermore, what could they do to merit punishment? If each person is in total isolation, what action is he capable of to deserve punishment? If, hypothetically, no punishment were to exist, does the overseer have any power at all? Or is his constant observation punishment enough, or enough to ensure that no punishment is necessary? I do not know the answer to any of these questions, yet all point to the same overarching one: Is there authority without the possibility of inflicting punishment?