Morality & Justice: Cappy P

Question 1

Hanging?

Answer 1

Rope noose placed around neck. Trapdoor opens & criminal falls quickly. Neck breaks, leading to death
Adv- Most cases death is quick & relatively painless
Dis- Occasionally neck doesn’t break. Slower and more painful death by strangulation

Question 2

Electrocution?

Answer 2

Criminal strapped to special chair. Massive electric current passed through the body. Shock kills
Adv- Reliable form of execution with rapid death
Dis- Traumatic & painful as death isn’t always instantaneous

Question 3

Lethal injection?

Answer 3

Criminal strapped to a bed. Tranquilliser given. Deadly chemical injected into body, leading to death. Possibly the most humane form of execution in the eyes of many people.
Adv- Painless/reliable with Doctor present to deal with any problems
Dis- Requires Doctor (trained to save lives & not assist in death)

Question 4

Beheading?

Answer 4

Sword or axe used to cut criminal’s neck
Adv- Quick death for criminal when an efficient blow administered.
Dis- Depends on ability of executioner. Death may be prolonger & painful by mis-timed blows

Question 5

Arguments for Capital Punishment?

Answer 5

• Capital punishment will deter would be murderers from killing people
• Those executed cannot commit further crimes
• Death penalty makes people feel safer
• Capital punishment teaches bad things happen to those who deserve it. Reinforces contrary belief of good things happen to those that are good

Question 6

Arguments against Capital Punishment?

Answer 6

• Innocent people will get killed because of mistakes/flaws in the justice system
• Death penalty doesn’t seem to deter people from committing serious violent
  crimes
• Capital punishment cannot make world a better place. In USA, more murders take
  place in states where capital punishment is allowed. The murder rate in states where
  the death penalty has been abolished was 4.01 per cent per 100,000 people. In
  states where the death penalty is used, the figure was 5.00 per cent
• Capital punishment costs a great deal. World would be better place if money used
  for other reasons

Question 7

Christian views on Capital Punishment?

Answer 7

• FOR – “an eye for an eye” Exodus 21:33. Means whatever crime you commit you should have same thing done to you. So if you take a life, your life is taken. Bible teaches strong should protect the weak. Capital punishment protects weak from criminals. Death penalty ensures criminal cannot repeat a crime.
• AGAINST – “thou shalt not kill” Sixth Commandment. Capital punishment goes against this. Life is a gift from God & only he has power to take life. In the New Testament, Jesus teaches importance of forgiveness, teaching people to forgive those who have done wrong. An example of this is the parable of the lost son.
  Capital punishment is wrong as it doesn’t give society a chance to forgive criminal. Love thy neighbour referring to victim & offender

Question 8

Humanist views on Capital Punishment?

Answer 8

• British Humanist Association are against capital punishment as it doesn’t work as deterrence & errors mean the state becomes responsible for killing innocent citizens
• Argue that it is unreasonable/illogical to show killing is wrong by killing someone. Argue that the USA, where capital punishment has been retained in some states, have the highest murder rates in the world. In USA, number of murders didn’t rise when capital punishment was abolished