Question 1

Which of the following does Reiman claim?

Accepted Answer

Reiman argues that the deterrence effect of not executing people might offset the deterrence effect of executing people, as argued by van den Haag. This suggests a balance or counterargument to van den Haag's claim about the effectiveness of the death penalty in deterring crime.

Question 2

Reiman argues that van den Haag's line of reasoning leads to the conclusion that we should institute

Accepted Answer

Reiman argues that van den Haag's reasoning, which supports the death penalty as a deterrent, could logically extend to advocating for even harsher punishments like death-by-torture to maximize deterrence.

Question 3

Reiman claims van den Haag faces a dilemma between which pair of options?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Reiman claims van den Haag faces a...

Question 4

Which of the following is not a reason Reiman offers to doubt van den Haag's claim that the death penalty will deter the most people?

Accepted Answer

Reiman argues that even if people fear death more than other punishments, this fear may not effectively deter them due to the way people assess risk. However, he does not claim that people do not fear death more than imprisonment.

Question 5

What is civilization, according to Reiman?

Accepted Answer

Reiman views civilization as the process of taming the human species, moving away from a state of nature towards a more ordered and controlled society.

Question 6

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?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is Reiman right that execution, like torture,...

Question 7

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?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is Reiman's vision for human civilization?...

Question 8

Explain the four objections to van den Haag's view about the death penalty's deterrence prospects. Do you think van den Haag could successfully defend his view against these objections? If so, how? If not, why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the four objections to van den...

Question 9

Retributivism is the view that the harshness of a punishment should be based on

Accepted Answer

Retributivism is solely based on the idea of a punishment fitting the crime, with the severity of the punishment being proportionate to the severity of the offense committed. This theory does not consider the consequences or costs of carrying out the punishment.

Question 10

Primoratz claims that the death penalty is the only penalty that is

Accepted Answer

Primoratz argues that the death penalty is the only penalty that is proportional to the crime of murder. While he does argue that it is an effective deterrent and cost-effective, these arguments are contentious and not universally accepted. Therefore, the best choice is B, which is the most clearly and uncontroversially supported by Primoratz's argument.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Primoratz admits that the chance of innocent people being executed exists but claims that it would still be unjust to abolish capital punishment. He argues that retaining capital punishment, with its possibility of error, is still a necessary and justifiable moral choice because their loss of life is a minor compared to that of the innocent victims of heinous crimes. He also claims that other permissible activities such as medical treatment or car driving also have risks of causing innocent deaths, but we do not completely ban them.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

The claim does not specifically rely on the assumption that all human lives are roughly equal in happiness, duration, or accomplishments, but rather on a more fundamental ethical or moral principle that all human lives have intrinsic value.

Question 13

According to Primoratz, why can a murderer not claim a right to life for themselves?

Accepted Answer

Primoratz argues that a murderer cannot claim a right to life for themselves because they have denied another person that very right. By taking someone else's life, they have forfeited their own right to life.

Question 14

According to Primoratz, why do we treat all human lives, qua human lives, as equally valuable?

Accepted Answer

Primoratz argues that if we do not treat all human lives as equally valuable, then we would have to give up the principle of equality of people under the law. This is because a person's worth would then depend on something that is arbitrary or contingent, such as their social status, race, or gender, rather than on their inherent human dignity. This would undermine the idea of a just society where everyone is equal before the law. Therefore, treating all human lives as equally valuable is necessary to maintain the principle of equality of people under the law.

Question 15

Which of the following does Primoratz offer as a response to the objection that the death penalty is applied in a discriminatory way?

Accepted Answer

Primoratz argues that the objection regarding discriminatory application does not challenge the inherent morality or justification of the death penalty itself, but rather criticizes the flawed ways in which it is implemented.

Question 16

According to Primoratz, a punishment is proportional only if it

Accepted Answer

According to Primoratz, a punishment is proportional if it deprives the wrongdoer of the same amount of value as that which he deprived their victim of. This idea is known as the principle of proportionality or the principle of just desert. Option A is incorrect because treating the wrongdoer just as the wrongdoer treated their victim can be cruel and inhumane. Option C is incorrect because the purpose of punishment is not only to prevent future crimes but also to ensure that the wrongdoer is held accountable for the harm they inflicted. Option D is incorrect because there is a correct answer.

Question 17

Why doesn't Primoratz think that capital punishment violates the criminal's right to life?

Accepted Answer

Primoratz believes in the right to life, but he argues that it is not an absolute right and that it can sometimes be outweighed by other considerations such as justice and protection of society. He maintains that capital punishment is not an unjust violation of the offender's right to life, but rather a permissible and proportional response to certain crimes.

Question 18

How does Primoratz respond to the objection that executing a young person is not proportionate to the murder of an elderly person?

Accepted Answer

Primoratz believes in the principle of treating all lives as equally valuable, regardless of age or other demographic factors. Therefore, he would likely argue that the age of the victim does not factor into the proportionality of punishment for the crime.

Question 19

Explain the retributive theory and contrast it with other theories of punishment. What are some of the retributive theory's advantages? What are some of its disadvantages? Ultimately, what theory of punishment strikes you as most plausible? Why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the retributive theory and contrast it...

Question 20

Many people claim that the death penalty is intrinsically immoral, either because they believe killing is always wrong or because they believe it is hypocritical to execute people for committing murder. How does Primoratz respond to these objections? Do you think his responses are adequate? Defend your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many people claim that the death penalty...

Quiz 20: The Death Penalty