This thesis aims to address the theme related to the dignity of the human person and the duty to care in Foucault, highlighting the main nuances listed in the work Vigiar e Punir: Birth of prison. We know that human command is directly linked to absolute and non-negotiable values belonging to all men, regardless of the situation they are in. The thesis is divided into three chapters. The first one mentions the concept of human dignity from a legal, philosophical and historical point of view, being a set of norms and values, ethical and moral, which aim to guarantee men minimum rights, such as life, freedom , safety, the social values of work, property and equality, aiming at a dignified and honorable existence in a given society. Continuously, we remark the importance of the historical evolution of the concept of human dignity and the main legal instruments that protect the inherent rights of all men. The second chapter is entitled “The body as an object of punishment”, bringing to light the vexatious practices known as torture, which were defended in the main European public squares of the 18th century, as well as their end, according to the evidence mentioned by Enlightenment thought. Finally, the third chapter mentions discipline and duty of care, bringing as crucial forms of disciplines present in the main social institutions (schools, orphanages, kindergartens, factories, etc.), such as prison and the duty of care.
