Is the Threat of Punishment Necessary?

There is a view of humankind that says if left alone people will just kill, rape and pillage. Therefore, we must have laws which if broken will result in punishment. Is that what it takes? I'm not sure about the answer to that. For example, it's pretty clear that the threat of capital punishment doesn't keep people from committing murder. As a matter of fact, Texas is putting more killers to death than ever before, but it doesn't seem that murder rates are appreciably lower.

However, if you could take money from a bank without getting caught, would you? Probably yes. So, in this case at least the threat of punishment seems to keep people honest (if honest is the word to use). This notion of punishment goes beyond the grave, because, well, it has to. If I could steal from a bank without getting caught in this life, what's to keep me from doing it? Life after death and eternal punishment. That's mostly what Christianity promises. Many believers actually don't do wrong just because God would kick their ass when they die. Is that a reason to call oneself honest? I don't think so. I mean, what does it say about you that the reason you don't steal is punishment? It says that ethically you would do it, no problem, it's just that getting caught and sent to hell keeps you from it.

If you were really ethical you would do the right thing, because it's the right thing - not because you'll get punished otherwise. It's kind of like when Jesus said that loving your family and friends was no great deed, because "even the pagans to that." No, he said love your enemies, because it's the right way to live. Wow! He had a way about him didn't he? So, is the threat of hell necessary to make humankind act with honesty and respect toward one another? If it is, then we are little more than children morally. The results may be the same whether you do it out of fear, or out of it being the right thing to do, but the starting points couldn't be farther apart!

I believe we have the ability to do things for the right reasons, but that we often do the right thing for the wrong reason. It's certainly a different feeling on the inside of a person, if she doesn't take your car because she knows she'll get caught, rather than not taking it because it's not hers to use. One if a jealous, fearful, and angry feeling. The other is calm and peaceful. So, the really ethical choice should feel better. If it doesn't, then you're probably operating out of jealousy, anger, and fear of punishment.
- posted by Marcos @ 2:26 PM