Atheism & the Death Penalty.

[Jehanne]

The question.......In very limited circumstances, such as multiple murders, rapes or torture and when rehabilitation is not possible.  

In such circumstances, it would seem like such an individual would meet the legal definition of being insane.

[Jehanne]

I used to be in favour of it, but I'm now I'm somewhat more on the fence. Those are all valid arguments you make, except the free will one. If we assume there is no free will, then those handing out penalties have no free will either, to "change" the punishment.

A "collective" free will is, IMO, different than an individual's free will, but everyone agrees that there are individuals (such as severely schizophrenic persons) who lack free will.  For the heinous crimes that merit the death penalty, I wonder if the individual who committed those crimes truly has free will, because it is unnatural to want to kill and/or torture someone.  This is why militaries across the globe engage in desensitization programs for new recruits, because killing a fellow human being is an unnatural act.

[robvalue]

Sure, if someone in particular has little control over what they are doing or is fully delusional, then they shouldn't be responsible for their actions. Of course, neither can they be allowed to roam free, so they would need committing to a secure facility where they could hopefully get help. I was referring to an argument where we are all shown to have no real free will, which doesn't have practical applications due to its circular nature even if true.

Regarding my earlier comments, I should really stop speculating about things I have no data on. So I'll reduce it to just saying I'd ideally like everyone in prison to do productive work somehow, and for there to be no death penalty. I'm just guessing at all the other factors and I probably have the wrong end of the stick, or possibly the wrong stick entirely.

[LadyForCamus]

My entirely personal, and emotional opinion on the matter is that those who lack empathy, and who demonstrate a cruel disregard for human life at the expense of the innocent (I.e. People who rape, torture, murder) forfeit their own right to be treated with humanity and respect for their dignity. Now, I'm not saying that all rapists and child abusers be executed, but I do think it is perfectly just to sentence the Ted Bundy's and Jeffrey Dahmer's of the world to death. Instances where people are deemed clinically insane, not able to discern right from wrong, and/or those who are not capable of controlling their actions would be my only exceptions.

For the record, I was adamantly AGAINST the death penalty back in my theistic days, because I believed that God would be doling out his punishments when the time was right.

[LadyForCamus]

...Not confident I used those commas correctly for Ted and Jeffrey...[emoji848]

[Reforged]

From a purely logistical stand point I voted in limited circumstances.
Our prisons are too full and some people really, really deserve to die. Win/Win

[Chad32]

It's a touchy subject with people. I would support it in the most extreme circumstances. I've read some messed up stuff in some stories. I don't even want to live on the same planet as people that are capable of some stuff that I've seen.

[c172]

In favor of it only on a case by case basis, and limited to murder or rape. Disgusted by the situation in Indonesia last year.

[Jenny A]

First of all I have no position on this subject, as an atheist.  There is nothing about not believing in a god or gods that could possibly help me formulate an answer.  

As a person, I voted for only in exceptional circumstances.  However, athe least in the U.S. ,  the deathing penalty is not applied fairly. Given the same crimes minorites are more likely to be executed.  And then there is the problem of the falsely convicted.  So under the current circumstances,  I'd vote never.

[zebo-the-fat]

The death penalty is a good idea until you execute the wrong person, this has happened. If the wrong person is jailed, they can be released and paid compensation, but dead is dead. On the other hand, if I KNEW someone had killed a member of my family I would want them slowly dipped in boiling oil!