Crime and Punishment

Is there ever a good reason to carry out a bad action?

Good

Evil

Both

Martin Luther king

Adolf Hitler 

Driving a car 

Mother Theresa

Killing people 

Abortion

Going on holiday 

Marrying your cousin 

Elizabeth the first 

Giving to charity 

Joseph Stalin

Good intention but bad action- vice versa 

Relative- changes based on circumstances 

Absolute- fixed 

Evil- profoundly immoral and wicked 

Intention- the aim or plan 

Action- process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim 

THERE IS NEVER A GOOD REASON TO CARRY OUT A BAD ACTION

Buddhist- right action, right intention, do not harm any living thing 

Christian- the authorities have been put there by God, treat others as you would like to be treated, 10 commandments

Agree

•   Law- murdering is bad 

•   

•   

Disagree 

• Relative 

• Self defence 

•    

CRIME AGAINST PERSON- wrongdoing that directly harms a person

CRIME AGAINST PROPERTY- wrongdoing that damages items belonging to someone else 

CRIME AGAINST THE STATE- wrongdoing that is aimed at damaging the government or country 

RELIGIOUS OFFENCE- not necessarily criminal but a wrongdoing that goes against religion- blasphemy

REASONS FOR CRIMES 

• Boredom 

• Peer pressure 

• Homeless

• Not a lot of money 

• Excitement 

• Wants more 

• Family 

A BAD UPBrINGING OFTEN LEADS TO A LIFE OF CRIME 

I agree as if you are surrounded by bad influences, you are more likely to commit crimes. I disagree as people who've had the best upbringing can still commit crimes.

The Aims of punishment 

Social 

Environmental 

Psychological 

Gangs

Poor housing

Mental Illness 

Unemployment 

Addiction 

Adrenaline rush 

• Rehabilitation 

• Remorse (?)

• Discipline

• set an example 

• Protect the public 

THE AIMS 

Aim

Definition

Example

Protection

Protecting the public- no longer threat to society 

Jail- life 

Retribution

Legal revenge

Death penalty

Deterrence

Putting everyone else off

Corporal punishment- chopping off hands 

Reformation 

Trying to reform someone 

Community service

Vindication 

Punishment because the law says so 

Fine 

Reparation

Repairing the damage between victim and criminal

Neighbors arguing

But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.-Exodus 21:23-25

Aims of punishment

Question

Strengths 

Weaknesses

              Christians

Buddhists 

For                              Against

For                                     Against

Punishment should reflect the crime- people should pay for what they have done (retribution)

Gets revenge, punishes a criminal

If you persecute someone and they were innocent and you gave them the death penalty, that would not be good

An eye for an eye, a life for a life 

“Let him who has no sin cast the first stone”-righteous judge

Right action, right intention, precept to not harm a living thing  

Severe punishments should be given by the courts to deter others from committing the same crime 

Deters other people from committing crime

…