Ethics of Social Punishment: The Enforcement of Morality in Everyday Life

Linda Radzik explores the informal methods ordinary people use to enforce moral norms,such as telling people off,boycotting businesses,and publicly shaming wrongdoers on social media. She argues that the proper aim of social punishment is to put moral pressure on wrongdoers to make amends,but the permissibility of applying such pressure turns on the tension between individual desert and social good. Responses from Christopher Bennett,George Sher and Glen Pettigrove challenge Radzik's account,while Radzik replies in the closing essay.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 12 November 2020
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

In her captivating 2018 Descartes Lectures for Tilburg University, Linda Radzik delves into the fascinating realm of informal methods employed by ordinary individuals to uphold moral norms. Through a series of three lectures, Radzik unravels the concept of social punishment, its rationale, and the circumstances under which it may be justified. She argues that the primary objective of social punishment is to exert moral pressure on wrongdoers, encouraging them to make amends. However, the permissibility of such pressure hinges on the delicate balance between individual desert and societal well-being, as well as the existence of legitimate authority to punish.

In response to Radzik's account, Christopher Bennett, George Sher, and Glen Pettigrove offer alternative perspectives, challenging her interpretation while also presenting their own viewpoints on our responses to wrongdoing. Radzik responds thoughtfully in the concluding essay, further enriching the discourse on social punishment and its implications.

This captivating exploration of the dynamics between individual responsibility, social norms, and the pursuit of justice offers valuable insights into the complex tapestry of human behavior. It prompts us to reflect on the role of social punishment in shaping our society and the ethical considerations that accompany its application.

Weight: 272g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108799294