Posted by Dave Andersen on April 03, 19101 at 00:47:22:

In Reply to: Humanitarian theory of Punishment posted by Sonya on December 21, 19100 at 10:28:51:

: Where can I find information on Lewis' critism of the humanitarian theory of punishment?

A very good window into Lewis' thoughts on "humanitarian" punishment may be found in That Hideous Strength. It is the fictionalized account of a struggle against a budding totalitarian regime (the NICE) in the UK immediately following WWII. This struggle culminates Lewis' space trilogy.

A major part of the NICE is that rather than "punishing" crimminals they will cure them with therapy. The rather machivelian and sadistic head of the NICE police remarks that punishment must be both proportional and must come to an end. When curing is the goal, any means may be used with no end in sight until those administering the cure say its done.

Its a long way around, but a good read too. If this is for a paper of some kind, this would make a much more juicy reference than another boring, dry journal article.

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup