Ethics of Corporal Punishment and Children
Ethics of Corporal Punishment and Children
Nadine Robinson
PHI 200 – Mind and Machine
Instructor Lisa Linkin
July 4, 2011
In this essay I am going to clarify the meaning of corporal punishment, identify with the ethics of corporal punishment and children, spanking vs. time out, infliction of pain without injury, and discuss the moral argumentative views on corporal punishment and children and the effects it has on children. Corporal or physical punishment is the use of physical force intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort for discipline, correction, and control, changing behavior or in the belief of educating and raising a child. Corporal punishment is practiced in almost all societies around the world and millions of children are being physically and emotionally punished by those who are caring for the children. It is inflicted on children at home, in schools, in medical institutions, in detention centers, in work places and in the streets. Some people carry corporal punishment to extremes, some people do not practice it at all, and some people believe in corporal punishment though, do not use it to inflict great harm but use it as a slight form of discipline. What are the boundaries for right and wrong reasons of using corporal punishment and does corporal punishment cause more harm than good? My mom had a paddle about 24 inches long and about half inch thick which had the names of me and my siblings written on it. It hung on the wall in the kitchen and if ever a word was said in a cross way indicating disrespect to her, a rule broken such as curfew, using cuss words, and even lying, would be cause for a spanking with the paddle. That paddle put the fear in my siblings and me. I was very afraid of mom and her paddle, so I was extra careful not to do anything that would cause her to use it on me. Common justification for corporal punishment on children is to teach them to be respectful, obedient, teach them right
Nadine Robinson
PHI 200 – Mind and Machine
Instructor Lisa Linkin
July 4, 2011
In this essay I am going to clarify the meaning of corporal punishment, identify with the ethics of corporal punishment and children, spanking vs. time out, infliction of pain without injury, and discuss the moral argumentative views on corporal punishment and children and the effects it has on children. Corporal or physical punishment is the use of physical force intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort for discipline, correction, and control, changing behavior or in the belief of educating and raising a child. Corporal punishment is practiced in almost all societies around the world and millions of children are being physically and emotionally punished by those who are caring for the children. It is inflicted on children at home, in schools, in medical institutions, in detention centers, in work places and in the streets. Some people carry corporal punishment to extremes, some people do not practice it at all, and some people believe in corporal punishment though, do not use it to inflict great harm but use it as a slight form of discipline. What are the boundaries for right and wrong reasons of using corporal punishment and does corporal punishment cause more harm than good? My mom had a paddle about 24 inches long and about half inch thick which had the names of me and my siblings written on it. It hung on the wall in the kitchen and if ever a word was said in a cross way indicating disrespect to her, a rule broken such as curfew, using cuss words, and even lying, would be cause for a spanking with the paddle. That paddle put the fear in my siblings and me. I was very afraid of mom and her paddle, so I was extra careful not to do anything that would cause her to use it on me. Common justification for corporal punishment on children is to teach them to be respectful, obedient, teach them right
References: Robinson, B.A. (2009). Religious Tolerance.org. Retrieved on June 19, 2011 from: http://www.religoustolerance.org/spanking.htm Waller, B.N. (2008). Consider Ethics: Theory, Readings, and Contemporary Issues (2nd ed.). New York: Pearson Education.