I will choose two of the following four questions and
put them on your midterm exam. You will
choose one of those two questions to answer.
1. Compare Glover and van den Haag’s positions on deterrence of crime and the death penalty. Thoroughly describe the two kinds of arguments that Glover uses to talk about deterrence, what are the strengths and weaknesses of these arguments. What is Haag’s argument? How does Haag disagree with Glover? Which of these theorists do you find most convincing on the issue of deterrence and capitol punishment? Why?
2. What does Haag believe about the morality of the death penalty in relation to problems of distribution? Some people have argued that Haag frames this problem unfairly, how does Haag’s framing of the problem miss the point? Do you find Haag’s arguments about distribution convincing? Why or why not?
3. How does social contract theory allow us to justify civil disobedience? Be sure to clearly and thoroughly address what the social contract is, and the advantages of social contract theory. Relate civil disobedience to at least one of the advantages of social contract theory.
4. What was Devlin’s argument against legalizing sodomy in Great Britain? Describe this argument in terms of two different moral theories that we have discussed in class this semester. What is an effect of being able to describe this argument in terms of more than one moral theory? How does Devlin decide behaviors ought to be illegal? Describe two problems with his decision making process. Do you find Devlin’s position convincing? Why or why not?