Abstract: As a special social regulation,the essential purpose of moral reward&punishment is to promote social moral liberty.And liberty is essencially the organic unification between social moral order and the intrinsic moral charater of individuals.Thus,the intrinsic essence of moral reward&punishment is certainly revealed through two functions:1.social function, such as the function of preventing moral disobedience,of maintaining moral authority,of advocating moral integrity,of guiding moral oriemtation,and of ensuring social justice.2.individual function, such as the function of securing moral actions,of pushing forward moral recognition,of fostering moral sentiment,of upholding moral belief and of molding moral character.

Key words: moral liberty, social regulation, moral reward&, punishment, function