A Novel Theory of Punishment

Robert N. Bellah's article, “Civil Religion in America,” quotes Benjamin Franklin (italics mine):

I was never without some religious principles. I never doubled, for instance, the existence of the Diety; that he made the world and govern'd it by his Providence; that the most acceptable service of God was the doing of good to men; that our souls are immortal; and that all crime will be punished, and virtue rewarded either here or hereafter.

I've heard a number of theories of punishment: retribution, opportunity for amendment, framework for rehabilitation, and protection of society. Perhaps you can think of a few others. But I don't believe that I've ever considered punishment on earth as a merciful prophylactic against punishment in the hereafter, as Franklin seems to imply.

Likewise, I think it is interesting that this passage also implies that unrecognized virtue is in some ways superior to recognized virtue, for the latter will find its reward in the afterlife. This, at least, is a more familiar notion:

Matthew 6:1-20 “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.   “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.   “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.   “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.   “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.   “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.

As for the punishment aspect, I find the Franklin hypothesis—punish now, to avoid punishment later—uncomfortable. It seems to me that all arguments of the form, “this for your own good,” should be approached with considerable skepticism.

Peace