Retributionalism
Retributionalism is a theory of punishment that holds that the proper response to a crime is to inflict punishment on the offender. This punishment is seen as a deserved consequence for the wrongful act committed, rather than a means to achieve some future good, such as deterrence or rehabilitation. The core idea is that justice requires that those who break the law suffer in proportion to the severity of their offenses. This concept is often summarized by the principle of "an eye for an eye," though modern retributionalism is typically more nuanced.
The justification for retributionalism rests on principles of desert and fairness. It argues that individuals have
Retributionalism can be contrasted with other theories of punishment, such as utilitarianism, which focuses on the