Scholars and Artists Discuss the Death Penalty

On March 7, Martha Minow, the 300th Anniversary University Professor and former dean of Harvard Law School, moderated a conversation about capital punishment with scholar John Bessler, photographer Lou Jones, and artist Antonio Martorell.

This event was sponsored by the Harvard Law School Library, in connection with its exhibit Visualizing Capital Punishment: Spectacle, Shame, and Sympathy.

[HoradrimBR]

Context is important.

Distinguish human acts based on the causes that moved the agent is on the basis of justice.

To kill a person could and could not be a crime (murder) depending on a multitude of factors.

As is the sexual intercorse could or not be a crime (rape).

These distinctions are necessary to understand the debate about what kind of conduct should have a penalty.

[therationalanarchist]

The debate about this is so asinine. If you are in favor of the death penalty, you are in favor of state sanctioned murder to punish someone for murder. It makes no sense whatsoever. You become a murderer to punish murder. It really is that simple. It's immoral and wrong. You also risk to the chance of punishing an innocent person which factually has happened several times. So you are doing something immoral and wrong and doing so with wanton disregard for human life. I would call you evil.

[hassansalih]

The death penalty has been discussed from the beginning of human creation until today in all monotheistic religions
But I think the best {Ayy introduced by the rational philosopher (I was) had described the execution as revenge
And before him what was stated in the Holy Qur’an and giving the right to retribution, but he said forgiveness is better for you if you are righteous
And you have a lesson in retaliation, that is, the punishment does not increase at the same level
The verse is beautiful, describing a courtly paradise that applies a punishment by applying all rights. The verse is one in Surat Al-Baqara and my words
(178) And for you there is life in retaliation, O people of understanding, so that you may become righteous (179) It is prescribed for you
- Thank you

[robertwnorrisii]

Dean Minow,

Have you read the history of The Great Elm tree on the Boston Common?

Thank you.

Sincerely & Respectfully,
R.W.N II