PHL 304 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Henry Lee Lucas
Document Summary
Recognize that the stastial evidence does not show that the death penalty works. Just in case it works we should use it. Argues for position of deterrence: the (cid:498)best bet(cid:499) argument (cid:523)from can den hang(cid:524) choose it even if we don"t know if it works. we"re right, then its good. don"t use cp claiming that it will save people. Doesn"t deter: the (cid:498)common sense(cid:499) (cid:523)intuitive) or anecdotal argument (backs up, intuitive: we don"t know, science doesn"t tell us. Reiman on deterrence: critique of the common sense argument: a problematic premise: the continuously disinclination premise. Also, the death in the street argument: often, it is true, that by increasing the severity of the punishment, that you will get an increased deterrent value. No one denies that deterrence plays an important rule in justifying a punishment: the continuously rising disinclination premise: keep increasing punishment severity, and it is possible that you will decrease the crime.
