Trials and Punishments - R. A. Duff - Paperback

How can a system of criminal punishment be justified? Duff suggests that punishment can be understood as a communicative attempt to bring a wrong-doer to repent her crime? The conclusion is pessimistic: punishment cannot be justified within our legal system; and the gap between the ideal and actual presents us with serious moral dilemmas. 'Duff's critical discussion of the traditional theories is incisive and persuasive ...' -- The Times Literary Supplement 'What makes the book engaging is the well-argued claim that the two standard philosophies of punishment - deterrence and retribution - are seriously flawed ... Duff's discussion is wide, and his unique perspective on the literature is interestingly and suggestively critical.' -- ChoiceDuff, R. A. is the author of 'Trials and Punishments - R. A. Duff - Paperback' with ISBN 9780521407618 and ISBN 0521407613.