Telishment

Telishment is punishment of one who is suspected of wrongdoing, but whom the authorities know to be innocent. Telishment is imposed as a deterrent to future wrongdoers. Telishment is not punishment insofar as punishment requires that the recipient's treatment be deserved. Telishment is put forward as a criticism of utilitarianism and consequentialism as valid theories of ethics. If supporters of these theories believe in the effectiveness of telishment as a deterrent, opponents claim that they must bite the bullet in saying that sometimes telishment is justified, in order to remain consistent.

Sources

* The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, "telishment"

See also

*Punishment