Quote:
Originally Posted by Mujokan
One will try to define the essential characteristics of "theft" and see if piracy fits. But why does one have that rule?
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Suppose that I shoplift a $10 book from Barnes and Noble and then put my $10 bill in the bucket of someone right outside the door collecting for cancer research. I haven't done it, but somebody has! The consequence of that theft was, I hope we both agree, good. Do you seriously think I should then be excused from all legal sanctions for my theft?
The donation should be a mitigating factor at sentencing. But if you agree with me that a little punishment -- a moderate fine without a criminal record -- makes sense here, we just made out our judgment based on a combination of consequences and rules.