Philosophy
Theories of Punishment: Retributivism vs. Consequentialism
Quick fact
In ancient legal codes like the Code of Hammurabi, punishments often reflected retributive justice (e.g., 'an eye for an eye'), while modern prison systems were heavily influenced by consequentialist ideas of rehabilitation and deterrence.
Why this is interesting
When a person commits a crime, we punish them—but have you ever stopped to ask why? Is it to give them what they deserve, or to prevent future crimes?