Eek—Legalism is alive and well, it seems. It seems to me that we punish people primarily so that mobs with torches and pitchforks (or individuals with shotguns) don’t do so. Thus, the outrage that would’ve been felt by the mob is echoed in the courtroom.
Sorry… according to Wikipedia, what I’m referring to would be Legalism (Chinese philosophy)). I was referring to the belief that having clearly defined rewards and punishments for actions (or in this case, only punishments) is the best path towards a harmonious society.
Eek—Legalism is alive and well, it seems. It seems to me that we punish people primarily so that mobs with torches and pitchforks (or individuals with shotguns) don’t do so. Thus, the outrage that would’ve been felt by the mob is echoed in the courtroom.
Um, what do you mean exactly by “Legalism”? Wikipedia has four different versions, and I don’t see at a glance which one applies here :P
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legalism
Sorry… according to Wikipedia, what I’m referring to would be Legalism (Chinese philosophy)). I was referring to the belief that having clearly defined rewards and punishments for actions (or in this case, only punishments) is the best path towards a harmonious society.