Single Idea 21744

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 3. Punishment / d. Reform of offenders]

Full Idea

To force a man to curb his desires, as we do by the criminal law, is not nearly so satisfactory as to cause him genuinely to feel the desires which promote socially harmonious conduct.

Gist of Idea

Legally curbing people's desires is inferior to improving their desires

Source

Bertrand Russell (An Outline of Philosophy [1927], Ch 22)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'An Outline of Philosophy' [Routledge 1979], p.187


A Reaction

It is hard to disagree, but improving the desires of selfish and even vicious people is a rather challenging task.