Exam 20: The Death Penalty

Is Reiman right that execution, like torture, is "too horrible to be done by civilized human beings to their fellows?" Do you agree with Reiman that execution belongs in the same moral category as torture? Why or why not?

Talk about: -Unconstitutional

Talk about: -Lethal injection

Van den Haag argues that the irrevocability of the death penalty supports a demand for

Van den Haag thinks the death penalty could only be justified on the grounds that it

According to Primoratz, a punishment is proportional only if it

Under what circumstances does van den Haag think the death penalty leads to a net gain?

What is Reiman's vision for human civilization? How does his position on the death penalty advance that vision? How does the message he thinks punishment practices should send differ from the message van den Haag thinks punishment practices should send?

How does Primoratz respond to the objection that there is a chance that innocent people will be executed?

According to Nathanson, the punishment for some crime is just only if

The claim that execution is proportional to murder relies on the assumption that all human lives are roughly equal in

Under what circumstances does van den Haag think the death penalty leads to a net loss?

Which of the following is a reason why Reiman thinks it's unlikely that the death penalty will deter any potential murderers?

If Nathanson's proportional retributivism is true, then

The Argument from Just Deserts relies on the claim that murderers deserve to die. What do you believe is the best available argument in support of that conclusion? Contrast the argument you suggest with the principle of lex talionis.

Which of the following is not a primary justification for punishment?