In this essay I will be addressing the problems associated with deterrence and retribution‚ whether consequentialism is adequate for justifying punishment and whether our view on human nature effects our view of social justice. I will also be discussing whether we are inherently good or evil and how that informs our view of punishment. In any society people transgress but the attendant sanctions differ. The question of whether man is inherently good or evil has vexed humanity since its appearance
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After a time when punishment was based on the idea of an eye for an eye and the supernatural world a new type of thinking came out that focused on rational choice and freewill. Ceasare Baccaria wrote On Crimes and Punishments‚ which focused on punishment as a way of preventing crime versus intervening in someone’s morality. Beccarria and deterrence theory assume that people are not influenced by some higher power but that people make rational choices to commit crime because according to their calculations
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sentencing criminals. Retribution is of the main reasons and is the philosophy that is the criminal’s punishment that shall be determined on the severity of the crime that has been committed. The retribution philosophy goes by the Old Testament which states “eye for an eye.” Deterrence is also another reason. The basis of deterrence is its effectiveness that a criminal will realize their punishment from the crime actually outweighs the crime itself. The philosophy goes to say that the criminal prevents
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Utilitarianism in the Theory of Punishment – Utilitarian ideology states that it is our duty to whatever will increase the amount of happiness in the world. Applying this ideology to the Theory of Punishment may seem counterintuitive. Taken at face value‚ Utilitarianism is incompatible with punishment‚ because by definition punishment makes people unhappy‚ therefore‚ is immoral under the strict tenants of Utilitarianism. However‚ Utilitarians‚ do see the need for punishment. Punishment restores a victim’s sense
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Capital Punishment For a long time now‚ society has been trying to figure out whether a crime so heinous exists for which a death penalty is needed to avenge the victim. Many argue that capital punishment is an abomination as the people who carry out the act are playing God and it is not a humane form of punishment. However‚ I disagree with that notion‚ since some crimes are so heinous‚ capital punishment seems like the only way the perpetrator can be punished and the victim avenged. Capital punishment
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There have been many debates on whether capital punishment should be allowed. However‚ many people feel that capital punishment is unnecessary as they believe that killing a person is absolutely wrong‚ even if that person is a serial killer‚ rapist‚ or anyone who has committed a serious crime. Some of the reasons why capital punishment is that it is inhumane‚ wrongful sentencing‚ and not deterring crime. First of all‚ capital punishment means‚ of course‚ the death sentence. No matter what
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crimes. Once rights are forfeited‚ Locke justifies punishment for two reasons: (1) from the retributive side‚ criminals deserve punishment‚ and‚ (2) from the utilitarian side‚ punishment is needed to protect our society by deterring crime through example. Thus‚ society may punish the criminal any way it deems necessary so to set an example for other would-be criminals. This includes taking away his life. Key arguments for supporters of capital punishment include: That people committing the most heinous
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most debated political and moral topics is that of Capital Punishment. Many people believe that the sanctity of life should take precedent over all‚ and that even if there is some deterrent effect stemming from capital punishment it is still not morally permissible. However‚ there are still others that believe that it is this same sanctity of life that requires the use of the death penalty in “death eligible” murder cases and capital punishment requires a certain “life-life tradeoff”. Two of the major
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A controversial topic has been in the headlines recently; whether corporal punishment should be banned or not. Corporal punishment is a form of physical discipline that inflicts deliberate pain to discipline a child. Doctors have been saying they want a ban on it because of the many long term effects that it can cause. Corporal punishment was popular in the 1950’s‚ with 99% of parents smacking their children. These days‚ only 69% of families in Australia do. Smacking children can cause mental
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Capital punishment is the lawful infliction of death as a punishment and since ancient times it has been used for a wide variety of offences. Although there are some countries that have abolished death penalty from their law‚ there are still many which still practice the act of killing a person for crime. Capital punishment is prevalent in the US‚ Asian and Middle Eastern countries. Crimes that carry the death penalty vary greatly worldwide from treason and murder to theft. Some of the ways of executing
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