(November 9, 2016 at 4:31 pm)Rhythm Wrote: We've included the first three in our ideas of punishment, but they're not required to justify punishment nor are they punishment in and of themselves. So we're left with the fourth.
Think of it in terms of a squirrel. You can rehabilitate a squirrel. You can deter a squirrel. You can isolate a squirrel. You will not be punishing the squirel in any of those cases. If, however, you're out to get vengeance on the squirrel..well, now you're punishing the poor thing.....and it;s only in light of that that any of the others -become- punishment.
I don't think vengeance is a proper function of government. Nor should it be a purpose of parental discipline.
The legitimate justifications for punishment are isolation, deterrence, and rehabilitation.
