The Sevenoaks School Journal of Philosophy - Volume Two APORIAii_digitalversion - Volume 2 | Page 17

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C EDRIC T AN
The incremental increase in punishment seems to be possible but does
this translate to practical success? A implementation of harsher punishment and
a stricter police force has lead to a large reduction of driving under the influence
in China. 18 A reduction of incidents by 87% in southern cities of China show
that a strong disincentive works, 19 it just requires implementation and a policing
force to carry it out which could mean an increase in the number of sobriety
checkpoints at hours and places which are prone to dangerous circumstances
and so forth. The force is there to do it, the only requirement is legislation to fol-
low through.
But is it fair? On a moral level, it may appear that bad luck can influence
the moral value of our actions making it unfair. Yet, to treat everyone equally by
accepting the control principle would be impractical. Punishment in this case is
used to ensure society’s safety and to judge our penalties upon tangible out-
comes. To make it feasible is to see it deter recklessness and to make it work is
to make an example of its strict enforcement.
APORIA: The Sevenoaks School Journal of Philosophy, Vol. II, Publication date: August 2018.