The philosophic Determinist would denounce the offender's conduct, but would not denounce the offender.
We Determinists do not denounce men; we denounce acts. We do not blame men; we try to teach them. If they are not teachable we restrain them.
You will admit that our method is different from the accepted method. I shall try to convince you that it is also materially better than the accepted, or Christian, method.
Let us suppose two concrete cases: (1) Bill Sikes beats his wife; (2) Lord Rackrent evicts his tenants.
Let us first think what would be the orthodox method of dealing with these two cases?
What would be the orthodox method? The parson and the man in the street would say Bill Sikes was a bad man, and that he ought to be punished.
The Determinist would say that Bill Sikes had committed a crime, and that he ought to be restrained, and taught better.
You may tell me there seems to be very little difference in the practical results of the two methods. But that is because we have not followed the two methods far enough.
If you will allow me to follow the two methods further you will, I hope, agree with me that their results will not be identical, but that our results will be immeasurably better.
For the orthodox method is based upon the erroneous dogma that Bill Sikes had a free will to choose between right and wrong, and, having chosen to do wrong, he is a bad man, and ought to be punished.