Publisher's Synopsis
In this volume, 12 philosophers and academic lawyers explore the many and complex philosophical questions surrounding crime and punishment, investigating questions central to the nature of a legal system.;Among the questions addressed are: what is the nature of wrongdoing in general? When is it proper to excuse people for their actions? How to we determine the form and amount of punishment? What justification do we have for its practice? In what ways ought we to reward or punish people for taking risks? Is it the case that (to paraphrase an ancient maxim of law) we ought to be so wary of punishing one innocent person that we should risk not punishing a great number of guilty ones? Should we have special rules in law for those who in the past have been treated unfairly by the legal system or society?
