Week 7 : Crime and Punishment

WEB LINK : none yet - I have one in mind...

WE PHILOSOPHERS have our heads and feet in the clouds and haven't yet got our readings together for you. But the topic for discussion this week will be CRIME, PUNISHMENT AND RETRIBUTION.

For you to think about :

What is the purpose or justification of punishment ? Should society take a purely pragmatic attitude towards punishment, seeing it in terms of DETERRENT, part of a RERFORMING PROCESS or perhaps even appeasing the psychological need of people (whether rightly or wrongly) to SEE JUSTICE DONE ? Or is there a higher purpose as well - is there a moral requirement that we should suffer for our misdeeds - is there moral justification for AVENGING those wronged ?

Most people, at some time or another, have felt the urge to punish another for what they have done against us, our friends or family, or even against people we don't know. Is that feeling a human weakness or a human strength ?

Can a wrong ever right another wrong ? If so, how ? If not, should we rethink the idea of retribution ?

What part does forgiveness have to play in punishment ? Who needs to forgive when a wrong is committed ? Who has the right to forgive when a wrong is committed ?

We look forward to hearing your views.

Notice Board

Send comments or longer contributions for publication here to week8@guypadfield.com. If your browser will not accept mail links, please e-mail us directly at week8@guypadfield.com