Prof Evans's ODU lecture on C.S. Lewis's 'The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment'

The current lecture explains the retributivist theory of punishment, which, according to C. S. Lewis, is the only theory that takes seriously the concept of just punishment, which requires asking a question that theories rejecting retribution don't and can't ask, "Is a particular punishment deserved?"

[landonfischer]

I have been instigating this topic and got the gist of what Lewis was saying here, but am grateful for your insight and explanation and feel I understand it a lot better. Thanks!

[antebellum]

I think you made an error. Lewis is not saying the the therapeutic view is the humanitarian view, he says that the retributivist view is the humanitarian theory. His argument is that the retributive view treats criminals like rational, responsible human actors (as people) and is therefore humanitarian, while the rehabilitative view treats people as pawns with no rights and no responsibility, and is therefore authoritarian and anti-humanitarian. Lewis rejected the confiscation of the word humanitarian to describe a view he thought was anti-humanitarian.

[sinirfox]

The reason this video has any views is because C.s lewis doodle was taken down …lmao