Moral theory and capital punishment - Hardcover

Sorell, Tom

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0631153217 ISBN 13: 9780631153214

Publisher: B. Blackwell in association with the Open University, 1988

Synopsis

This book concerns not only capital punishment but also the use of philosophical theories of right and wrong. The author argues that such theories are not to be regarded as giving expert knowledge of right and wrong, still less expert guidance in the resolution of practical dilemmas. What they can do however is to improve moral rhetoric, raise the standard of persuasive speech for and against capital punishment, abortion, and euthanasia to name a few. By introducing more rigour into the justification and criticism of these practices, he then applies philosophical criticism to some moral rhetoric in a parliamentary debate on capital punishment. He moves on to show how normative ethical theories can provide some of the required justification. Two influential normative ethical theories - utilitarian and Kantian - are described and applied to the morality of capital punishment. In the end a Kantian argument in favour of the death penalty for a small range of crimes is accepted. Arguments on the other side, both utilitarian and non-utilitarian, including several taken from US Supreme Court opinions in the 1970s, are given consideration. Though the book argues that capital punishment can be morally justified, it concedes that workable capital punishment legislation may be very difficult to frame.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Tom Sorell's book concerns not simply capital punishment but the use of philosophical theories of right and wrong. He argues that such theories are not to be regarded as giving expert knowledge of value, still less a definite technique for resolving practical dilemmas. Instead, they improve moral rhetoric and raise the standard of persuasive speech for and against capital punishment, abortion and euthanasia by introducing higher standards of justification for claims about these practices.

Moral Theory and Capital Punishment illustrated how philosophical theory can be applied to questions of wide public concern. It introduces the leading moral theories proposed by philosophers and derives from them a variety of arguments for and against the death penalty. The conclusion reached is that capital punishment is morally justifiable in certain cases but extremely difficult to introduce safely into general legislation.

About the Author:

Tom Sorell is Lecturer in Philosophy at the Open University.

About this edition

• Publisher: B. Blackwell in association with the Open University
• Publication date: 1988
• ISBN 10: 0631153217
• ISBN 13: 9780631153214
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 172