Rodolfo Vázquez

Nota sobre Los lenguajes de la jurisprudencia, la sociología y la ética, Retribucionismo vs. utilitarismo

Taking as a starting point a critical review of Mexican law philosopher Ulises Schmill’s emblematic writings, we consider the recurring debate concerning retributivism and utilitarianism regarding the justification behind punishment and its relationship with power. A third model, halfway between the absolutism of the ethics of punishment and the subjectivity of ethics of responsibility, is proposed. Such a model is both cooperative and constructivist. From this third model a critique of Schmill’s consequentialism can be made, which alongside Thucydides and Shakespeare’s approaches, allows us to arrive at an alternative proposal.