All joking aside, I really don't know what to think of the death penalty. I do, however, find Jeremy Irons' argument/the argument he was told to recite to be flawed in a few areas.
His argument assumes everyone believes in human rights, but even if one does, his argument assumes that one person, for example, taking another's right to life does not mean one's right to life is then forfeit. Beyond that, the justice system still deprives a murderer of his rights when he is imprisoned - the right to move about freely, potentially the right to property, etc. What's to say those rights are not as important as the others?
In addition, his parting comment "Do we really want to join them?" ("them" being the murderers and torturers) assumes the actions of a justice system in punishing someone found guilty are no different than a murderer killing out of cold blood, which is fairly easy to argue against.
All that aside, Jeremy Irons has a fantastic voice that makes this video worth listening to again and again.
Guillotine ftw.
ReplyDeleteAll joking aside, I really don't know what to think of the death penalty. I do, however, find Jeremy Irons' argument/the argument he was told to recite to be flawed in a few areas.
ReplyDeleteHis argument assumes everyone believes in human rights, but even if one does, his argument assumes that one person, for example, taking another's right to life does not mean one's right to life is then forfeit. Beyond that, the justice system still deprives a murderer of his rights when he is imprisoned - the right to move about freely, potentially the right to property, etc. What's to say those rights are not as important as the others?
In addition, his parting comment "Do we really want to join them?" ("them" being the murderers and torturers) assumes the actions of a justice system in punishing someone found guilty are no different than a murderer killing out of cold blood, which is fairly easy to argue against.
All that aside, Jeremy Irons has a fantastic voice that makes this video worth listening to again and again.