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Paternalism as Punishment.

¹University of Hong Kong, University of Oxford.

|July 14, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Paternalistic behavior, while often impermissible towards innocent individuals, can be ethically justified when directed at criminal offenders. In some instances, it may even be a morally preferable alternative to traditional punishment methods.

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Area of Science:

Moral Philosophy
Criminology
Ethics

Background:

Paternalism is generally considered impermissible when applied to innocent individuals.
Traditional methods of punishment for criminal offenders are widely debated.
The ethical justification for inflicting harm on offenders is a complex issue.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the permissibility of paternalistic behavior towards criminal offenders.
To argue that paternalism can be a morally preferable alternative to traditional punishment.
To establish a moral justification for paternalistic actions toward offenders.

Main Methods:

Philosophical argumentation
Ethical analysis
Conceptual analysis

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Main Results:

Paternalistic behavior can be permissible towards criminal offenders, unlike innocent persons.
Paternalism may be a morally preferable alternative to conventional punishment in certain cases.
The justification for paternalism toward offenders aligns with the justification for intentionally harming them as punishment.

Conclusions:

Paternalism towards offenders is ethically justifiable under specific circumstances.
Paternalistic interventions can serve as a morally sound method of punishment.
This approach offers a novel perspective on offender rehabilitation and justice.