Thursday, March 28, 2013

Guilt vs. shame; deterrence vs. retribution

In discussion during both classes this week, we separately considered two differences between our culture and the culture from which Confucius was writing. First, that his was a shame culture and ours is a guilt culture; second, that the idea of retributive punishment was absent from his thoughts, though it seems perfectly normal -- albeit occasionally objectionable -- to us.

This makes me wonder if there is a link between the two. Perhaps our inclination towards retributive punishment has its roots in the desire for criminals to feel guilty/guiltier. Perhaps deterrent punishment works so smoothly in shame cultures because it reminds potential criminals of the shame they will experience if they carry out their intended crime.

What do you think?
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2 comments:

  1. Payton TaylorMarch 30, 2013 at 8:36 PM

    I'm actually a little confused by this. I understand what you are saying, and it does make sense, but I kind of view it the opposite way.

    I agree that retributive punishment may be intended to make criminals feel guilty for there actions-- after all, just sitting in a prison cell will make anyone reflect on their past actions. However, I also think that, especially with today's coverage of crime, this sentence also brings forth a great deal of shame. I imagine that being a felon inspires a lot of judgement from others.

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    1. Matt SillimanMarch 31, 2013 at 8:59 AM

      You are right, Payton, that every culture probably experiences both shame and guilt, and it can be a confusing mix. When we make the distinction, therefore, we're talking about a difference of emphasis, not one to the utter exclusion of the other. Let's talk about this some more in class if it will help get a handle on it.

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