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Single Idea 22604

[filed under theme 25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 3. Punishment / a. Right to punish ]

Full Idea

You should ask 'Ought not this man to be put to death, who is deceived in things of the greatest importance, and is blinded in distinguishing good from evil?' …You then see how inhuman it is, and the same as 'Ought not this blind man to be put to death?'

Gist of Idea

Punishing a criminal for moral ignorance is the same as punishing someone for being blind

Source

Epictetus (The Discourses [c.56], 1.18.6-7)

Book Ref

Epictetus: 'The Discourses, The Handbook, Fragments', ed/tr. Gill,C [Everyman 1995], p.44

A Reaction

This is the doctrine of Socrates, that evil is ignorance (and weakness of will [akrasia] is impossible). Epictetus wants us to reason with the man, but what should be do if reasoning fails and he persists in his crimes?

The 45 ideas from Epictetus

23325 Epictetus developed a notion of will as the source of our responsibility [Epictetus, by Frede,M]
23324 In the Discourses choice [prohairesis] defines our character and behaviour [Epictetus, by Frede,M]
23331 Not even Zeus can control what I choose [Epictetus]
23338 You can fetter my leg, but not even Zeus can control my power of choice [Epictetus]
23339 I will die as becomes a person returning what he does not own [Epictetus]
23340 We consist of animal bodies and god-like reason [Epictetus]
23329 We make progress when we improve and naturalise our choices, asserting their freedom [Epictetus]
20873 Tragedies are versified sufferings of people impressed by externals [Epictetus]
23341 God created humans as spectators and interpreters of God's works [Epictetus]
23342 Freedom is acting by choice, with no constraint possible [Epictetus]
23330 Freedom is making all things happen by choice, without constraint [Epictetus]
23343 Because reason performs all analysis, we should analyse reason - but how? [Epictetus]
22604 Punishing a criminal for moral ignorance is the same as punishing someone for being blind [Epictetus]
23344 Reason itself must be compounded from some of our impressions [Epictetus]
23328 The essences of good and evil are in dispositions to choose [Epictetus]
23345 Don't be frightened of pain or death; only be frightened of fearing them [Epictetus]
23346 A person is as naturally a part of a city as a foot is part of the body [Epictetus]
23347 If I know I am fated to be ill, I should want to be ill [Epictetus]
23348 Both god and the good bring benefits, so their true nature seems to be the same [Epictetus]
23349 Asses are born to carry human burdens, not as ends in themselves [Epictetus]
23350 A wise philosophers uses reason to cautiously judge each aspect of living [Epictetus]
23351 We are citizens of the universe, and principal parts of it [Epictetus]
23352 A citizen should only consider what is good for the whole society [Epictetus]
20874 A citizen is committed to ignore private advantage, and seek communal good [Epictetus]
20875 If we could foresee the future, we should collaborate with disease and death [Epictetus]
23353 We have a natural sense of honour [Epictetus]
23354 If someone harms themselves in harming me, then I harm myself by returning the harm [Epictetus]
20876 Philosophy investigates the causes of disagreements, and seeks a standard for settling them [Epictetus]
23355 The task of philosophy is to establish standards, as occurs with weights and measures [Epictetus]
23356 Self-evidence is most obvious when people who deny a proposition still have to use it [Epictetus]
23357 Knowledge of what is good leads to love; only the wise, who distinguish good from evil, can love [Epictetus]
23358 Every species produces exceptional beings, and we must just accept their nature [Epictetus]
23332 Zeus gave me a nature which is free (like himself) from all compulsion [Epictetus]
23359 We can't believe apparent falsehoods, or deny apparent truths [Epictetus]
23360 Each of the four elements in you is entirely scattered after death [Epictetus]
23361 Health is only a good when it is used well [Epictetus]
23363 The evil for everything is what is contrary to its nature [Epictetus]
23362 All human ills result from failure to apply preconceptions to particular cases [Epictetus]
21394 Philosophy is knowing each logos, how they fit together, and what follows from them [Epictetus]
23364 Homer wrote to show that the most blessed men can be ruined by poor judgement [Epictetus]
23367 Even pointing a finger should only be done for a reason [Epictetus]
4022 Epictetus says we should console others for misfortune, but not be moved by pity [Epictetus, by Taylor,C]
23365 If someone is weeping, you should sympathise and help, but not share his suffering [Epictetus]
23368 Perhaps we should persuade culprits that their punishment is just? [Epictetus]
23366 We see nature's will in the ways all people are the same [Epictetus]