What I've read of Peter Singer seems a little extreme.
I am a utilitarian in the sense that I believe in the greatest happiness of the greatest number or whatever - and I am against retributivism as an ideal method.
However, in practice it's very difficult... and I think taking empathy and compassion out of the equation would be impossible - we are not robots, that's how we judge right and wrong in the first place.
Not letting them cloud our judgement and fall into some forms of bias, that's important - but we can't get rid of them IMO! That's how we judge right and wrong in the first place. I personally just think ideally retributivism makes no sense to me, being someone who doesn't believe in free will. I think the only reason to punish is if some good comes from it - I don't believe in any intrinsic moral of retribution...
I believe the ends have to justify the means but I don't believe in a "greater good" because I think everyone's well being is important. So there isn't really a "greater" for me. I believe the ends justify the means in the sense that it's only moral to punish if good comes from it, if people learn a lesson, if it prevents more harm to others, etc.
EvF
I am a utilitarian in the sense that I believe in the greatest happiness of the greatest number or whatever - and I am against retributivism as an ideal method.
However, in practice it's very difficult... and I think taking empathy and compassion out of the equation would be impossible - we are not robots, that's how we judge right and wrong in the first place.
Not letting them cloud our judgement and fall into some forms of bias, that's important - but we can't get rid of them IMO! That's how we judge right and wrong in the first place. I personally just think ideally retributivism makes no sense to me, being someone who doesn't believe in free will. I think the only reason to punish is if some good comes from it - I don't believe in any intrinsic moral of retribution...
I believe the ends have to justify the means but I don't believe in a "greater good" because I think everyone's well being is important. So there isn't really a "greater" for me. I believe the ends justify the means in the sense that it's only moral to punish if good comes from it, if people learn a lesson, if it prevents more harm to others, etc.
EvF
