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Maybe the entire concept of punishment is a mistake? I don't have a solution or a better alternative, just saying that punishment only really makes sense if ag
by jopsen 8y ago
Maybe the entire concept of punishment is a mistake?
I don't have a solution or a better alternative, just saying that punishment only really makes sense if agents in the system are rational.
- toss1 8y agoWell, that's a whole different discussion. Assume that the criminals are 100% irrational, random, and not influenced by external inputs; even then, inprisonment has a value to society of containing the possibility of bad actions by those bad actors during the prison term. The fact that the recidivism rate is far less than 100% also tells us that criminals are not 100% random, irrational, and unresponsive to external inputs. A significant number do actually rehabilitate, whether by taking advantage of counseling, rethinking their choices, or simple fear of re-inprisonment. So yes, it seems that until we come up with something better, making the system more accurate is the way to go.