Corporal punishment teaches that violence and inflicting pain are legitimate ways to effect compliance.
It teaches that it's proper for the strong to dominate the weak.
It teaches that right is that which avoids pain, and wrong is that which causes or risks pain.
It does not teach either moral principles or moral behavior.
It emphasizes obedience to authority, not compliance with moral principles.
It teaches risk avoidance. not proper behavior.
It will extinguish unwanted behaviors -- as long as real, direct and painful consequences are perceived.
It may teach deviousness -- that a behavior is OK as long as consequences can be avoided.
It will not assist in promoting good behavior in novel situations.
It will, on the other hand, produce obedient citizens, compliant workers and good soldiers.
Psychologists and sociologists, with expertise in this field, who have studied long term consequences, generally believe the practice harmful.
Anthropologists, who've studied child-raising strategies in many different cultures, find that corporal punishment is not necessary to promote good behavior or achieve long term, pro-social results.
Perhaps, for parents who are, themselves, at low levels of moral development, it's the best they can do.
Many religious, after all, have been raised to follow commandments -- not to ask why; not to consider consequences. Teaching; even considering why a thing is right or wrong, is beyond them. The Good -- is following orders.
Deontology vs consequentialism.
It teaches that it's proper for the strong to dominate the weak.
It teaches that right is that which avoids pain, and wrong is that which causes or risks pain.
It does not teach either moral principles or moral behavior.
It emphasizes obedience to authority, not compliance with moral principles.
It teaches risk avoidance. not proper behavior.
It will extinguish unwanted behaviors -- as long as real, direct and painful consequences are perceived.
It may teach deviousness -- that a behavior is OK as long as consequences can be avoided.
It will not assist in promoting good behavior in novel situations.
It will, on the other hand, produce obedient citizens, compliant workers and good soldiers.
Psychologists and sociologists, with expertise in this field, who have studied long term consequences, generally believe the practice harmful.
Anthropologists, who've studied child-raising strategies in many different cultures, find that corporal punishment is not necessary to promote good behavior or achieve long term, pro-social results.
Perhaps, for parents who are, themselves, at low levels of moral development, it's the best they can do.
Many religious, after all, have been raised to follow commandments -- not to ask why; not to consider consequences. Teaching; even considering why a thing is right or wrong, is beyond them. The Good -- is following orders.
Deontology vs consequentialism.
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