Must there be punishment?

Should punishment deter or serve retribution? What deserves to be punished? Is a violation of morality enough - and which "morality" is meant?

In this book, philosopher Norbert Hoerster explores such elementary questions and puts recognized positions in philosophy to the test. According to his analysis, renowned positions from Kant and Hegel to the present hardly stand up to rational scrutiny. According to Hoerster, it is not the retributive but only the general preventive sense of punishment that is legitimate. As in all his books, Hoerster writes clearly and in a generally understandable manner. He opens up a controversial field of tension between philosophy and jurisprudence for readers without prior knowledge as well as for experts.