The Problem of PunishmentIn this book, David Boonin examines the problem of punishment, and particularly the problem of explaining why it is morally permissible for the state to treat those who break the law in ways that would be wrong to treat those who do not. Boonin argues that there is no satisfactory solution to this problem and that the practice of legal punishment should therefore be abolished. Providing a detailed account of the nature of punishment and the problems that it generates, he offers a comprehensive and critical survey of the various solutions that have been offered to the problem and concludes by considering victim restitution as an alternative to punishment. Written in a clear and accessible style, The Problem of Punishment will be of interest to anyone looking for a critical introduction to the subject as well as to those already familiar with it. |
Contents
Preface page ix | 1 |
The Consequentialist Solution | 37 |
The Retributivist Solution | 85 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
accept act of punishing act-utilitarian solution argued argument behavior believe biting the bullet breaking the law censure clearly committed consent solution consequences consequentialist solution consider Curly defender of punishment deserve to suffer deter distributive justice enjoyed entailment test example fact fails the entailment fairness-based retributivist forfeiture claim foundational test free rider guilty objection harm requirement implication innocent objection innocent person intuitions ishment justify punishment Larry Larry's legal punishment level of well-being maintains ment Moe's moral education solution moral luck morally permissible murder offender's particular pass the entailment permissibility of punishment practice of punishment problem of punishment punishing the guilty punishing the innocent punishment involves pure restitution question rape reason to reject reductio ad absurdum response retributivism retributivist position right to punish rule rule-utilitarian solution secondary victims Section seems self-defense solution Shemp simply solution fails someone suppose telishment theory of pure unacceptable utilitarian violates wrongfully harmed