Bentham’s Utilitarian Theory of Punishment and Kantian Retributivism: Ontology, Moral Agency, and the Ends of Justice Introduction Theories of punishment lie at the intersection of moral philosophy, political theory, and jurisprudence. Among the most influential frameworks are Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarian account and Immanuel Kant’s retributive theory. Bentham (1748–1832), as the founder of classical utilitarianism, conceived … Continue reading How does Bentham’s utilitarian framework of punishment compare with Kantian retributivism in terms of their ontological assumptions about moral agency and the ends of justice? Critically comment on Bentham’s claim that punishment is an intrinsic evil that must be justified solely by its capacity to produce greater aggregate happiness through deterrence and reform.