Punishments

Summary: Part of a series on the five elements of society, exploring how they evolved. This segment explores the social phenomenon of punishment. The forms of punishment that a society chooses, and what it deems a crime, illustrate that society's values. How is justice pursued and punishment meted out? Looks at the history of punishment, beginning with early compensatory forms of justice, Hammurabi's Code and the Law of Moses. Socrates' execution and Roman and medieval forms of justice are analyzed in a historical context, underscoring the fact that punishment was often intended as a deterrent rather than as a reformatory measure. Discusses contemporary forms of punishment, including the death penalty, along with the ways in which these sentences reflect what society values.