POLS 3600 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Impulsivity, Crime Prevention, Moral Agency
4 Apr 2017
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Document Summary
Aim of punishment is to respond in kind to one who has infringed on rights of others and so deserves to be penalized. Free will man is a free moral agent. Satisfies public sense of justice, in some ways a human need. Severe, harsh, and, if taken to extremes, inhumane. Purpose of punishment is to get people to conform their behavior by assuring that non conformity will cause extreme discomfort. The pain of punishment should outweigh the benefit of crime. Assumes man is rational makes decisions based on best interest. People make calculated decisions that optimize their utility. Crime is not always a calculated, rational, decision. Mental illness, impulsivity can all make deterrence moot. Purpose: deprive offenders of the ability to commit crimes in society. Usually by detention, or to otherwise render the offender unable to do harm. Skepticism for peoples ability or willingness to change. Views human behavior and mind as intriate, complex, and malleable.
