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Honor and Revenge: A Theory of PunishmentMaking Sense of Honor

Honor and Revenge: A Theory of Punishment: Making Sense of Honor [This chapter engages in an analysis of the concept of honor. It begins with a critique of the evolutionary account of honor, according to which retribution and revenge are evolutionary adaptations the purpose of which is to deter future harms. In fact, there is a better explanation of honor that gives it a non-instrumental explanation, while allowing that the prevention of future harm is a side effect of the exercise of honor. In order to defend one’s honor, one has to demonstrate a willingness to stand up to the wrongdoer in a confrontation involving significant physical risk. In the modern world, the state has taken on this role on behalf of the victim, by bringing the wrongdoer to justice. We then turn to a defense of the moral value of honor. Although honor is often taken as an obsolete value, in fact it can be understood as rooted in the value of individual dignity and autonomy. Honor is often misunderstood as being merely “external,” i.e. as consisting entirely in public reputation, but a careful analysis shows this to be a misinterpretation. Honor, properly understood, is a legitimate and even essential moral value.] http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

Honor and Revenge: A Theory of PunishmentMaking Sense of Honor

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Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Copyright
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013
ISBN
978-94-007-4844-6
Pages
147 –166
DOI
10.1007/978-94-007-4845-3_7
Publisher site
See Chapter on Publisher Site

Abstract

[This chapter engages in an analysis of the concept of honor. It begins with a critique of the evolutionary account of honor, according to which retribution and revenge are evolutionary adaptations the purpose of which is to deter future harms. In fact, there is a better explanation of honor that gives it a non-instrumental explanation, while allowing that the prevention of future harm is a side effect of the exercise of honor. In order to defend one’s honor, one has to demonstrate a willingness to stand up to the wrongdoer in a confrontation involving significant physical risk. In the modern world, the state has taken on this role on behalf of the victim, by bringing the wrongdoer to justice. We then turn to a defense of the moral value of honor. Although honor is often taken as an obsolete value, in fact it can be understood as rooted in the value of individual dignity and autonomy. Honor is often misunderstood as being merely “external,” i.e. as consisting entirely in public reputation, but a careful analysis shows this to be a misinterpretation. Honor, properly understood, is a legitimate and even essential moral value.]

Published: Aug 1, 2012

Keywords: Moral Intuition; Honor Code; Hard Treatment; Deterrence Theory; Honor Society

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