Determinism and Punishment
Not what you're looking for?
Imagine that hard determinism is true. Would there be any justification for punishment? Why or why not?
Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary
The solution, a concise essay on determinism, free will and punishment as it relates to justice, cause and the law is written in APA-format. References are provided and sources cited. A word version of the solution is attached for easy printing.
Solution Preview
Dear Student,
The concise narrative below discusses determinism and free will as it relates to crime and punishment. I hope this solution helps.
Sincerely,
OTA 105878/Xenia Jones
------------------------------------------
Determinism, Free Will and Punishment
Siegel (2004) defines crime and criminology from a legal perspective as "...crime which involves acts that interfere with the operations of society and the ability of people to function efficiently...." In other words, it is deviant behaviour that becomes criminalized because it has become disruptive and uncontrollable, i.e., informal ways of dealing with it has not resulted to any positive result. But what if the criminal has no control over what he have become - his choices, his persuasions, and his behaviours. What if he lived in a reality where determinism is true?
'Free Will' is a term that we refer to when we rational a choice of actions in the manner by which we conduct our lives. While it can be a simplistic explanation for individual choices, it also implies religious, ethical & scientific grounds to our actions whether or not we consciously acknowledge it during the fact. Debate rages on to this day whether or not 'free will' is what it actually connotes to us linguistically - is it a total freedom of choice or is it determined and caused. If such is the case is it really 'free' as we imply it to be? Can freedom coexist with something that is already determined? Determinism per se holds that ever event, every human behaviour ...
Education
- MPhil/PhD (IP), Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
- MA, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
- Certificate, Geva Ulpan (via Universita Tel Aviv)
- BA, University of the Philippines
Recent Feedback
- "Thank you!:)"
- "Excellent, thank you!:)"
- "Thank you for your timely help. I have submitted another posting (656038) and assigned it directly to you. Please help."
- "Thank you so much for your timely help. Much appreciated."
- "Thanks so much for your support."
Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
The World Health Organization
This quiz assesses the students knowledge about the World Health Organization. Although listed under “Philosophy” it is relevant to health care, political science, pre-med, and social scientist students as well.
Descartes Meditations on First Philosophy
Short quiz relating to Descartes