[domas]

Then by this logic one could argue, that locking them away for 30 years is not unfair because it is also predetermined by the state of the universe at this given time and there is nothing other people could do but to sentence the killer. Free will or no free will the argument goes both ways.

[danieltillett]

Exactly. I have never understood why people use determinism to excuse bad behaviour, but fail to see the resulting punishment is just as determined.

[marklgr]

They don't fail to see it, they just object to calling it "fair".

[danieltillett]

If determinism is true then nothing (or everything) is “fair”.