How did the third contemporary issue effect your principles? What more have you found that you need to reasonably respond to these moral issues beyond a set of principles? Are their other skills or knowledge that will make you a more effective ethical being? What are they?
The third contemporary issue being the death penalty, is against my views. I believe that death is justifiable in means of war or defense. Otherwise it is unethical to kill a human being. Yes, murder is againist my views, therefore, the death penalty as punishment for murder will also be against my views. Allowing the death penalty as a punishment for murder is a double standard. The message that the government is sending is unclear and disheveled. They are loudly proclaiming, "Killing is wrong, so we'll kill you to prove that." I'm not sure where the lesson is learned or where the point is proven.
Both of the philosophers that we focused on regarding this issue, Mill and Hook found certain cases in which they approved of the death penalty. I think that you either stand fully against something or you are an avid advocate for the issue, otherwise, you have no stance and therefore no belief regarding the issue. In order to change my views, I would possibly have to be a family member of someone who was murdered in order to have a different stance. I do not know what the families have gone through or what comfort they might find in the inflicted death of the killer, but until I experience it for myself I cannot agree with the death penalty.
Experience can make me a more ethical being. I am only 19, turning 20 in a few months. I have not been alive long enough to experience most things that have an effect on the shaping of beliefs and morals. All I know is that experience is a teacher in itself, it either solidifies or changes the belief systems that we have grown up to know. Experience is knowledge and it increases the chances of being effective, moral individuals.
This week, I have commented on http://ndeahterry.blogspot.com & http://javiluq.blogspot.com .
capital punishment is becoming very futile in our eyes. It is not about human rights concerns but states and nations promoting this are fighting a losing battle.
ReplyDeleteI read an article from the ACLU indicating that we spend a lot of taxes on capital punishment and it is becoming useless.
The best way to reduce violent crimes are to increase employment, increase police as well as build more surveillance systems.
I ponder why many states are letting go of the death penalty; It is taking a massive slice of their checking accounts, when you have a doctor and a syringe w/ death penalty drugs.. all the state gets is a fat bill.
I couldnt agree more. The death penalty is wrong and simply ineffective. Someone on death row spend years and years wasting tax payers dollars before they're eventually executed, a process which is also expensive. How about we put money into to tackling real issues like poverty, drug abuse, and education that really contribute to crime in this country??
ReplyDeleteThis is a well written blog and I agree with the majority of what you are saying. The government is setting a pretty bunk example of moral standard by saying killing is wrong but turning right back around and justifying it under their circumstances. The constitution and foundation of America is supposed to protect American freedom and the most integral freedom a human being is life itself, so by allowing the death penalty is hypocrisy in itself.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your example on the war and how they are justifying killing in another country but here you can be killed for killing. I'd like to here their justification on it if I ever had the chance to ask them. I'm also against capital punishment but I'm different in the sense that I don't know how I would feel if somebody was to kill multiple times.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate the fact that you explained how having a family member murdered might change your opinion. That's something I never thought of and it completely makes sense that it would change your views. I also agree that experience is going to change your principles. Our parents have different view than us and it makes sense that it would be because they have lived longer and experienced more. You definitely make a lot of great points and it was a pleasure hearing them.
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