Appropriate Punishments

Answer choices

1. A

   Correct89% picked this

   does not employ the notion of

   Why this is right

   This reinforces language from our Support Window: This [second] rationale is controversial because some find it difficult to see how a punishment can be justified if it brings no societal benefit; without such benefit, punishment would appear to be little more than retribution. The second rationale says "the punishment is justified by the severity of the crime, whether or not the punishment benefits society". And people reacted to that like, "Wait a sec ... you don't care whether or not it benefits society? You're not employing the notion of social benefit at all? So they if not for social benefit, why are you punishing someone? Just for vengeful, retributivist kicks?"

   Skill tested: Locate Detail · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

   89%
2. B

   Not in Support Window3% picked this

   allows for disproportionately severe

   There's nothing about disproportionately severe punishments in the sentence we have to go off of: This [second] rationale is controversial because some find it difficult to see how a punishment can be justified if it brings no societal benefit; without such benefit, punishment would appear to be little more than retribution.

   3%
3. C

   Not in Support Window5% picked this

   conflicts with our intuitions about

   There's nothing about conflicting with intuitions in the sentence we have to go off of: This [second] rationale is controversial because some find it difficult to see how a punishment can be justified if it brings no societal benefit; without such benefit, punishment would appear to be little more than retribution. This answer does seem a little tempting, though. The criticism of "This rationale sucks. You're making punishment out to be little more than retribution" seems to come from someone whose intuitions about justice are that it should be more than just retribution. But two things: 1) we're much safer picking an answer that actually matches the text provided, and the sentence that explains why the 2nd rationale is controversial says nothing about our "intuitions about justice" 2) The people criticizing the 2nd rationale may think that it conflicts with their intuitions about justice, but this answer choice is speaking from the passage's point of view (i.e. the author's). According to this author, why is the 2nd rationale controversial? She doesn't say that it conflicts with out intuitions about justice. She says, "People don't like that it seems solely about retribution."

   5%
4. D

   Not in Support Window1% picked this

   implies that punishment does not deter

   There's nothing about lack of deterrent effect in the sentence we have to go off of: This [second] rationale is controversial because some find it difficult to see how a punishment can be justified if it brings no societal benefit; without such benefit, punishment would appear to be little more than retribution.

   1%
5. E

   Not in Support Window2% picked this

   arises from intuition rather than

   There's nothing about it being intuitive rather than logical in our Support Sentence. This [second] rationale is controversial because some find it difficult to see how a punishment can be justified if it brings no societal benefit; without such benefit, punishment would appear to be little more than retribution.

   2%