HUMA 1825 Study Guide - Final Guide: Occupy Movement, H. L. A. Hart, Khoikhoi
Document Summary
Billy is a large, but kind na ve character with a stutter who was born an orphan. Claggart accuses billy of being the ringleader of a mutiny. Captain vere didn"t believe the accusation and wanted billy to justify it. Because billy has a speech impediment (stutter), he couldn"t deny the accusations against him. Out of panic, billy strikes and kills claggart without meaning to. Vere wanted to acquit billy but did not in the fear of mutiny. Billy was executed in order to maintain order and avoid a precedent that if billy could hit a commander, others would be too. According to full law (dworkin), billy would have been let go. Vere made a judgment of the law as it is (positivist) He separated his moral views from duty and the law. Aristotle"s point of view: billy was wrongfully convicted and vere failed to apply. Pg 75- god will bless you for that .