Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Should corporal punishment be allowed?
Position1 of 3
Yes, corporal punishment is good
Argument2 of 3

Corporal punishment can be administered easily

Corporal punishments are quicker and cheaper than the alternatives.

The argument

In the context of a school, a drawn-out punishment process disrupts the student’s learning and wastes teachers’ time. In wider society, lengthy punishment processes are a drain on the public purse and a waste of communal resources. Therefore, it is in everyone’s interest to adopt a punishment system that can quickly administer punishments. Corporal punishments do not require lengthy processes or jail sentences. They can be administered quickly and cheaply whenever digressions occur.

Context

Long and drawn out punishments are not beneficial for the transgressor or the victim. Corporal punishment can be administered quickly, allowing all parties to put the incident behind them and work on reconciliation and self-improvement.

Premises

[P1]Drawn-out punishment processes disrupt learning, waste teachers' time, and drain public resources. [P2] It is therefore in everyone's interest to adopt a punishment that can be administered quickly. [P3] Corporal punishment requires no lengthy process or jail sentence and can be delivered quickly and cheaply whenever transgressions occur. [C] Therefore, because corporal punishment can be administered easily, it is good and should be allowed.

Counter-arguments

The long term costs of corporal punishment are substantial. It leads to increased mental illness, including anxiety disorders, depression, and substance abuse. These mental health disorders take their toll on health systems and require substantial government spending. Just because corporal punishment is quick and cheap to administer, doesn't mean the effects aren't long-lasting and costly.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P2] The long-term costs of corporal punishment are high.