[7] Is This Punishment?

This section really reminded me of an idea presented in the book "The Problem of Punishment." Among other things, the book lays out ideas for how governments can "ethically punish" citizens. As I understand it, the main idea the author lays out is that states cannot directly inflict harm (harm being punishment), but they can do things that will cause future harm. So, putting someone in a pit full of hungry wolves is not ethical, but banishing them, knowing that they will be eaten by wolves, is a-ok.

Hearing Baudrillard describe a simulated robbery made me think of that idea. The Problem of Punishment suggests that simulating punishment and actually punishing are distinct, and that further, the simulated punishment is ethical and the real is not. Baudrillard disagrees. He sees that difference between simulated and non-simulated as rhetorically interesting, but irrelevant in the context of reality.

I think I agree with Baudrillard?

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