‘Unless we assume that everyone is free to make moral choices, we have no right to punish criminals’. Discuss

... 'Unless we assume that everyone is free to make moral choices, we have no right to punish criminals'. Discuss According to the Hard Determinist view, freedom is an illusion. Humans cannot be punished because just punishment presupposes blame. We cannot be blamed for the actions we take because the choices we make are predetermined by factors beyond our control. As science advances, there is increasing evidence that human nature is the product of genetic inheritance and up bringing. According to this view, humans are not 'autonomous', as was once believed. Historically, the human race has set itself apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. Along with Aristotle, we regarded ourselves to be at the top of the hierarchy, as we possess the unique ability to make moral decisions. On the hard determinist view, we do not exist independently of the rest of nature, and are indeed subject to the

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