>[!abstract] >The concept of retributive justice has been used in a variety of ways, but it is best understood as that form of justice committed to the following three principles: >1. that those who commit certain kinds of wrongful acts, paradigmatically serious crimes, morally deserve to suffer a proportionate punishment; >2. that it is intrinsically morally good (good without reference to any other goods that might arise) if some legitimate punisher gives them the punishment they deserve; and, >3. that it is morally impermissible intentionally to punish the innocent or to inflict disproportionately large punishments on wrongdoers ([[Walen, 2023]]). >[!related] >- **North** (upstream): [[Justice theory]] >- **West** (similar): [[Deterrence theory]] >- **East** (different): [[Restorative justice]] >- **South** (downstream): [[Lex talionis]]