Retributive

Retributive is an adjective used in philosophy, law, and ethics to describe a theory or justification of punishment grounded in moral desert. A retributive approach holds that offenders deserve punishment in proportion to the wrongdoing they have committed, and that punishment is warranted because the action itself is blameworthy.

Central to retributive thought is the idea that punishment is an end in itself, not merely a means to achieve other social goals such as deterrence or rehabilitation. The salience is proportionality: more serious crimes merit harsher penalties, while lesser offenses deserve lighter punishment. Culpability, or the offender's degree of fault, is typically taken as a prerequisite for punishment.

Retributive justice is often contrasted with consequentialist or utilitarian theories that justify punishment by expected outcomes, such as reducing future crime or improving social welfare. Some frameworks incorporate both desert-based and outcome-based rationales in a mixed approach.

Critics argue that pure retribution can echo vengeance, may sanction disproportionate harm, and can be difficult to reconcile with human rights or mercy. Proponents contend that desert preserves individual autonomy and dignity by treating persons as moral agents deserving of accountability. In practice, many legal systems blend retributive considerations with other aims, applying proportional sentences that reflect culpability.