On Retributive Punishment.

The article explores the concept of retributive justice and its justification in modern society. It discusses the four rationales for punishing criminals, including retribution, which seeks to inflict suffering upon the perpetrator simply because they deserve to suffer. The author argues that the desire for retribution likely evolved as a crude mechanism for social control, but it is sub-optimal in a modern context. The article also delves into the debate on free will and determinism, with one philosopher arguing that retributive punishment lacks a philosophical basis due to the non-existence of free will. However, another philosopher defends a compatibilist form of free will, stating that determinism does not imply fatalism. The article concludes that punishment, including retributive punishment, can play a role in moral reform and the development of moral knowledge. [Extracted from the article]