Hello Philo Agoran,

This Tuesday, October 28, Allan McCay will discuss Free will, retributive punishment and sentencing in the courts.

Allan teaches at the University of Sydney Foundation Program and is a PhD candidate in the Law Faculty at the University of Sydney. He is admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong, Scotland, NSW and Tasmania and has been visiting researcher at the philosophy departments of the University of Stirling and the California Riverside.


Sentencing in New South Wales considers deterrence, rehabilitation and the incapacitation of the dangerous. However it also considers desert, thus there is a retributive aim to sentencing that looks back to the wrongfulness of the offence rather than to future considerations. In this paper Allan focuses on the retributive aim of sentencing and considers whether the science behavioural genetics gives reason to believe that some offenders are less deserving of punishment than was thought.

Our Format is a talk of 20 minutes relating to a philosopher, philosophy or philosophical theme. The Chair will take a few specific questions on the talk, then there is a 10 minute break. The Chair then invites responses to the talk to a maximum of 3 minutes. The meeting closes with the speaker having the last word. We charge each attendant $6. You are given a ticket to trade at the counter for a coffee or a tea. After paying the cafe, the rest of the money goes toward the low maintenance costs of running Philo Agora.


Come early from 6pm and join the regulars in a meal before the presentation. Philo Agora's home is the Fair Trade Coffee Company in Glebe.  This is a coffee house with its own particular ambience offering specialty fairtrade coffee and a relaxing spot to sit around and talk with new friends both before and after the Philo Agora talks.  It is located close to the Parramatta Road and can be easily reached by public transport.  Take advantage of the free, three hour parking in the Broadway shopping complex.

Regards,

Samuel Alexander.