the Death Penalty - Page 2

Jikanu · 03-01-2009, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by Hraesvelg

Aaaand that's where you lost me. It's hard to have rational discourse with someone that holds irrational truths so near and dear.

Here's a little newsflash, we ARE apes.

but is it not the goal of humanity to rise to greater heights and become the best we possibly can? to extend our understanding of the world, and to extend the correctness of our actions? to extend our moral correctness, and try and live the best we possibly can?

**Ralath** · 03-01-2009, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by Jikanu

*shrugs*i believe it would be God's decision, but that gets into religion, which this isnt about. i dont think society should choose to kill. that takes us back to more prehistoric times... more primitive. if we dont have the common sense to stop the killing, how are we any better than apes?

God's "decision" isn't going to help us.

Sorry.

**Hraesvelg** · 03-01-2009, 09:46 PM

That may be a goal of some humans, and it is laudable, but to say that humanity itself has some sort of ultimate goal is missing the mark. There is no fate, no ultimate end point. We are what we make of it.

If you want to have that goal, boffo. More power to you. My goal might be to have sex with the most women possible, or to acquire the most wealth, or to write the perfect sonata. I think life can be summed up like this: "Your mileage may vary."

Jikanu · 03-01-2009, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by Hraesvelg

That may be a goal of some humans, and it is laudable, but to say that humanity itself has some sort of ultimate goal is missing the mark. There is no fate, no ultimate end point. We are what we make of it.

If you want to have that goal, boffo. More power to you. My goal might be to have sex with the most women possible, or to acquire the most wealth, or to write the perfect sonata. I think life can be summed up like this: "Your mileage may vary."

good point. but humanity seems to be working together to progress. we always have been, even though it's just for our own good at first glance. for example, no matter your lifestyle, you'll most likely have a job, working to provide some form of service, or thinking to solve a problem. that will cause an advancement of some sort, when the company is working as a whole. that advancement will snowball. for example, do you think the first man to make fire was thinking "if i do this, i'll change the world"? no, he was more likely than not thinking "i wonder what will happen if i rub these sticks together..." Therefore, even if it's unwittingly, we all play a part in some form of advancement, whether it be philosophical, ecological, technological, political, whatever.

Originally Posted by Ralath

God's "decision" isn't going to help us.

Sorry.

what exactly do you mean? your comment doesnt make sense to me. i'm simply saying there's no point in killing the prisoner. the death penalty just ends things. as previously stated by hrae, new evidence comes up all the time. however, there's no way to be 100% sure. plus, as i said before, the death penalty is more expensive than feeding the prisoner. i was simply saying that no human has the right to take that of another, no matter who the person. unless your life, or the life of another is in danger, you shouldn't kill, therefore giving a moral reason to stop it along with the logical one.

**Ralath** · 03-01-2009, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Hraesvelg

If not us, and by that I mean we as a society, then who?

Originally Posted by Jikanu

*shrugs*i believe it would be God's decision, but that gets into religion, which this isnt about.

I'm referencing this quote. I'm saying that someone has to decide.

**Hraesvelg** · 03-01-2009, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by Ralath

I'm referencing this quote. I'm saying that someone has to decide.

Thus quoth the sage Geddy Lee, "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."

xDario · 03-01-2009, 10:42 PM

I think people should have the choise.
If they want to die or spend the rest of their lives in jail.
ofc, then they would need to ake killing quick and painless.

Jikanu · 03-01-2009, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by xDario

I think people should have the choise.
If they want to die or spend the rest of their lives in jail.
ofc, then they would need to ake killing quick and painless.

...they're criminals. i dont think that they should really have a choice at that point ._.

the judge deciding is for the best.

**Hessah** · 03-01-2009, 11:09 PM

Yeah, I agree with Hrae here.. (or his first post at least.. skim read the rest)

That just because we cant be SURE that someone has committed a deadly crime.. the fact that a wrong person could be killed... I don't support death penalties..

I'd think that most victims and their families are "relieve" to some point, to know that the person is locked away from the society... Just that they cant be out harming more people is usually the most important thing... (or I would think it is)

I just don't like the idea that people with a "life sentence" could be release after 30 years or something...

Jikanu · 03-01-2009, 11:12 PM

good point... but i dont see how the life sentance would expire after thirty years, unless they got through on parole, or were proven innocent.