Final answer:
Retribution is punishment for wrongdoing intended as vengeance, typified by the quote 'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth' from the Code of Hammurabi. It was designed to limit excessive retaliation and maintain social order. Retribution remains a key aspect of justice systems, aiming to deter crime by imposing just and proportionate penalties. The correct option is a.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 3800-year-old quote that represents this concept of retribution is "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." This principle is found in the Code of Hammurabi, which promoted punishments that fit the crimes, with adjustments based on social class.
The phrase "An eye for an eye" was a legal principle meant to restrict retaliation to ensure that the punishment was not more severe than the crime committed. This law aimed to prevent a cycle of escalating violence that could arise from extralegal retribution, similar to what's seen in gang or underworld warfare. Furthermore, setting monetary equivalents for specific wrongdoings enabled the justice system to avoid physical harm as a form of punishment, thus maintaining order and preventing violence from spiraling out of control.
In broader terms, retribution is one of the five basic approaches to controlling crime, alongside incapacitation, prevention, rehabilitation, and restoration. It plays a central role in many justice systems, seeking to impose penalties that are proportionate to the offenses committed to achieve justice and deter future crimes.
Hence, Option a is correct.