I know it was more to talk about the slavery and human rights half but it’s sort of fascinating to see flogging in the penalty list. Makes me wonder if that would be a more effective punitive deterrent against recidivism. While I know some people get off from it and it wouldn’t deter everyone, I have to wonder how much more viscerally unwilling to risk the punishment the average criminal would be if instead of 6 months or a year or two, you got 10 to 100 with the lash. Is it more humane to have the violence over quickly and let the rehabilitation begin nearly immediately? Or better they rot away in jail mentally and emotionally for months to years making more associations with other criminals the longer they are in jail?
I think the latter is better, simply because it can be upgraded to its next step, which is to shift the focus of the jail time from punishment to rehabilitation.
In general I don't think punishments work. I can't imagine one goes back to being a productive, and wholesome person after 100 lashes in public. And other first world leaders seem to think the same.
