Towards a Moral Education Theory of Childhood Punishment

This paper serves as a defense of the application of moral education theory to childhood punishments and includes a recommendation for proper punishment based on a Razian conception of autonomy. Punishment on this account can and should infringe upon autonomy, but it must do so according to certain restraints. Accordingly, this paper includes a test to determine whether a punishment is permissible. The moral education theory can be justified through its aptitude at producing moral adults who follow moral rules by their own volition, however, morally educative punishments will likely produce other side benefits such as deterrence as well.