MORALITY; CORPORAL PUNISHMENT & THE DEATH PENALTY

[Guido Fawkes]

Topic change from post: http://www.biblewheel.com/forum/showthread.php?5668-How-do-we-know-if-something-is-true&p=67532#post67532

Two questions:

1. Do you believe that corporal punishment is ever morally acceptable?
2. Do you believe that Capital punishment is ever morally acceptable?




First, generally speaking I do not believe in inflicting physical punishment as in striking a child, the exception is giving a small child a swat on the behind, or a slap on the hand. Violence only teaches violence and it's a holdover from a barbaric and primitive way of thinking.

Secondly, I do not believe in the death penalty, even though I know there are people who deserve death for the crimes they commit. The taking of a life is final, and there have been far too many cases where errors have been made in convicting the wrong person of a crime.



The following question is not just for Rose, I would like to hear from anyone who has an opinion.

Murder is never morally justifiable.

Do you believe that there could ever be a situation in which the taking of another human life is morally justifiable? If so, please give specific examples.

Do you believe that there could ever be a situation in which corporal punishment is morally justifiable? If so, please give specific examples.

[Richard Amiel McGough]

The following question is not just for Rose, I would like to hear from anyone who has an opinion.

Murder is never morally justifiable.

Do you believe that there could ever be a situation in which the taking of another human life is morally justifiable? If so, please give specific examples.

Webster's defines murder as "the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought." That definition is a legal definition, but not all laws are moral (e.g. slavery was once legal), so it does not really relate to the question at hand.

Therefore, I think we should drop the legal term from the discussion and ask simply:

Is it ever moral to kill a person?

My answer is yes. It is moral to kill a person with a terminal illness who asks you to do it, assuming that the person is of sound mind.

Another situation: It is moral to kill a person who is attempting to murder another.

[Guido Fawkes]

Webster's defines murder as "the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought." That definition is a legal definition, but not all laws are moral (e.g. slavery was once legal), so it does not really relate to the question at hand.

Therefore, I think we should drop the legal term from the discussion and ask simply:

Is it ever moral to kill a person?

My answer is yes. It is moral to kill a person with a terminal illness who asks you to do it, assuming that the person is of sound mind.

Another situation: It is moral to kill a person who is attempting to murder another.



Richard,

Would you be willing to define murder by dropping 'crime' & 'unlawfully' so that it reads, "the killing of a person especially with malice aforethought"?

Webster's defines malice as, "a desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another", which would mean that 'mercy killing' would not be considered murder.

[Richard Amiel McGough]

Richard,

Would you be willing to define murder by dropping 'crime' & 'unlawfully' so that it reads, "the killing of a person especially with malice aforethought"?

Webster's defines malice as, "a desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another", which would mean that 'mercy killing' would not be considered murder.
Why does it matter? The question concerns the morality of killing a human being. Why bother with semantics of "murder" when we have a much clearer definition?

Is it ever moral to kill a human being?

Seems pretty straightforward. Is there a reason you want to focus on the word murder?

[Guido Fawkes]

Why does it matter? The question concerns the morality of killing a human being. Why bother with semantics of "murder" when we have a much clearer definition?

Is it ever moral to kill a human being?

Seems pretty straightforward. Is there a reason you want to focus on the word murder?

Good point.

No.


Thank's for the feedback! I do agree that under certain circumstances killing another human being is morally justifiable. I'm grateful that I've never had to face any of these circumstances myself.

[Richard Amiel McGough]

Good point.

No.

Thank's for the feedback! I do agree that under certain circumstances killing another human being is morally justifiable. I'm grateful that I've never had to face any of these circumstances myself.
Thank you for the clear response. It's what makes conversation worthwhile and fruitful.

I too am glad I've never been faced with such circumstances. I know it would be horrible, not matter how "morally justified."