Daniel: I don’t understand this free will business. It’s meaningless. Who needs it?
Isaac: But if we didn’t have free will, what would be with moral responsibility?
Daniel: I don’t understand this moral responsibility business. It’s meaningless. Who needs it?
Isaac: But without moral responsibility, how could we punish criminals?
Daniel: Aha. Punishing criminals is about deterrence. Not revenge.
Isaac: But if punishing criminals is only about deterrence, then why do we take pains (in theory) to avoid punishing the innocent?
Daniel: What? Why not?
Isaac: Taking pains to avoid punishing the innocent dilutes the deterrence effect (in theory). If moral responsibility is not an issue, then why would we care so much if the alleged criminal actually committed the crime?
Daniel: Hmmm, I hadn’t thought of that. Very clever. In that case, what is moral responsibility?
Isaac: Heck if I know. But it must be something!
Isaac: But if we didn’t have free will, what would be with moral responsibility?
Daniel: I don’t understand this moral responsibility business. It’s meaningless. Who needs it?
Isaac: But without moral responsibility, how could we punish criminals?
Daniel: Aha. Punishing criminals is about deterrence. Not revenge.
Isaac: But if punishing criminals is only about deterrence, then why do we take pains (in theory) to avoid punishing the innocent?
Daniel: What? Why not?
Isaac: Taking pains to avoid punishing the innocent dilutes the deterrence effect (in theory). If moral responsibility is not an issue, then why would we care so much if the alleged criminal actually committed the crime?
Daniel: Hmmm, I hadn’t thought of that. Very clever. In that case, what is moral responsibility?
Isaac: Heck if I know. But it must be something!
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