Quote:
Originally Posted by lynn P.
If we take your example and apply a broad brush to all criminal activity, then no one would go to jail because we're not supposed to punish anyone. How would there be order in society?
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Putting someone in jail, or isolating them from society, is NOT the same as punishment -- or at least, not necessarily. I think we have to make the distinction between the use of (the minimum necessary)
force, and
punishment. Force
can be used for good; punishment (to me, at least) always includes the aspect of condemnation. That is not good, not healing in any way. It just serves to make the condemner feel better for a short time.
If you notice, I never said we have to forego putting people in jail, though I don't like using that term, because we
always think of it as "punishing". It is hard to make the distinction when you are not used to doing so, but I think it is essential.