RE: Morals of Executions
October 24, 2013 at 1:29 am
(This post was last modified: October 24, 2013 at 1:30 am by bennyboy.)
I don't think there's anything immoral about killing criminals.
The most common argument is from hypocrisy-- you are punishing a killer by killing. But the difference comes down to the social contract: the killer killed someone who is (presumably) faithfully involved in the social contract of law and decent behavior. That person had a right to expect the rewards of the social contract: safety, liberty, etc. But one who has murdered has violated the social contract so badly that he deserves no expectation of any of its benefits, including safety.
My probablem with execution is that at least some people must have been killed wrongly. You can't pardon someone when they're pushing up daisies.
The most common argument is from hypocrisy-- you are punishing a killer by killing. But the difference comes down to the social contract: the killer killed someone who is (presumably) faithfully involved in the social contract of law and decent behavior. That person had a right to expect the rewards of the social contract: safety, liberty, etc. But one who has murdered has violated the social contract so badly that he deserves no expectation of any of its benefits, including safety.
My probablem with execution is that at least some people must have been killed wrongly. You can't pardon someone when they're pushing up daisies.
