"Punishment is now unfashionable... because it creates moral distinctions among men, which, to the democratic mind, are odious. We prefer a meaningless collective guilt to a meaningful individual responsibility"
- Thomas Szasz
About this Quote
This quote by Thomas Szasz speaks to the idea that in a democratic society, the concept of penalizing individuals for their wrongdoings is seen as unfashionable. This is since it develops a moral distinction in between those who have done incorrect and those who have not, which is viewed as an affront to the democratic perfect of equality. Instead, Szasz argues, society chooses to assign cumulative regret to all, regardless of specific obligation. This is seen as a more palatable service, as it prevents making moral distinctions in between people. However, this approach stops working to hold individuals accountable for their actions, and thus fails to supply significant justice.
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