Why Should We Punish? Theories of Punishment

When we punish people, we're harming them. So what makes it okay for us to do that? There are three main theories of punishment that answer this question in different ways. Retribution and Retributive theories say that wrongdoers simply deserve to suffer. Deterrence theories say that punishment is justified because it prevents future wrongdoing. And rehabilitation theories say that we're justified in punishing when we do it in an effort to reform the wrongdoers.

Further reading:
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Entry on "Punishment":

Media Sources:

[radhikaokay]

Short and to the point explanation! Thank you so much

[hovosukiasyan]

Thank you for helping me to write my paper of Philosophy <3

[KnowArt]

I don't understand why rehabilitation has to involve punishment. Of course forcing someone to do anything could maybe be seen as a restriction on their freedom and therefore a punishment, but putting someone back into school, with as place to live and with a mental help professional for example wouldn't really seem a punishment to me.
I would expect that the only rehabilitating factor in a punishment, (just of what I feel is a punishment, since it's not defined here) is actually the deterring factor, but instead of deterring other people, you're deterring that one person from committing the same crime again. But then rehabilitation shouldn't be on the list, since it's actually deterrence in disguise.

[sanyashetty]

Loved your explanation. To the point and easy to grasp. Thankyou!

[ulrek]

Working on my criminal law final, thank you!

[jimbojackson]

You could also mention Incapacitation.

[ericmann]

What about states that incarcerate innocent people, and don't compensate them when (if ever) they are proven not guilty?

[thesarahsmith]

This is an interesting thought. And, for me, all three are applicable in different instances. As a parent I feel like some should apply more often than others. But certainly use all three.

[GODemon]

Punishment doesn't make people better. It makes people worse.
Education and understanding is the only way of making people better.

[AaronDahlstedt]

What's the punishment which protects society? This person needs to be removed from society; they may "deserve" to feel hurt, others may learn from the example, and they perpetrator of a violence may learn from the consequence. But if the goal is to protect others from further violence, and the punishment isn't about the perpetrator, how is that categorized?

[ishmaelrock]

Hi, This video is perfect for my class. Just to give you the correct credit can you provide me with the correct citation?

[fvlsdfs]

I thought LOVE was supposed to be THE ANSWER. War and punishment retribution. Love creates only LOVE.

[ThinkingAboutStuff]

Do you think retribution is a legitimate justification for punishing people? Some object that it’s just an excuse to exact revenge or get vengeance.

[Eternalised]

Very interesting video! Do you have Twitter by any chance? I'm trying to build a small YT philosophy group for likeminded individuals! So we can support each other if your interested.

[DanValentineFilms]

Why should we punish people in the first place, though? Why even have to go with any of these theories?

[mayank]

I don't understand the concept on crime. Why do we need to punish a murderer. I understand that he is harmful for the society and most of us would not like to get ourselves killed(exception some people do want themselves to be killed). Keeping them in prison surely parents them from comitting more crimes. Giving death PENALTY surely prevent people to do crime.

But if you think deeply if we are the accused and you have killed someone, would you still support the death penalty? Will you still say that yes I deserve life imprisonment? No if i am the murderer i will not say that i deserve the death penalty. I will try my best to save myself. Even if I have plans to do more murders I don't think that i deserve to die or I deserve any form punishment.

From victim perspective if i think they will say that I deserve punishment but from my accused perspective i don't. My thoughts also changes when I put my self in different situations. If i am the victim i will want punishment, If I am the accussed I don't want any punishment. So I am myself confused.

The reason i think death PENALTY or any punishment is wrong is because we human want to do things. I would like to kill, i will like to murder, i will like to fly, i will like to go to moon and climb mount Everest, i will like to have sex with some people who don't want to have sex with me(Rape), I would like to stab someone.

But all these things I cannot do because some of them are not possible today and some of them are illegal. So I would like to do them.

So what's the solution Act i think giving everyone 10 extra lives. So they die and get to life. This way murderer can kill the victim and enjoy. At the same time the victim can enjoy being killed without actually being dead because after being dead he will get back to life after may be 10 minutes.

But this not possible as of today that's why the only option we are left with is Giving punishment to the accussed.

Because when accussed kills a victim it's the accused who gets the benifit only victim suffers. Which looks wrong. But if you see tiger killing a buffalo. Why tiger does not any punishment??? He surely kills buffalo brutally. Buffalo is the victim and only victim suffered in this case.

[SunSheepOfLight]

Punishment can be good but also bad, but in some place’s like North Korea 🇰🇵 it’s much more bad than good.

[thesarahsmith]

Something something bitter ex wife comment.

[trollingisasport]

To reaffirm boundaries and teach responsibility.