Homework on "The Ultimate Punishment: A Defense" by Ernest Van Den Haag

You will probably have to read the entire paper before answering these questions. What you turn in does not need to include the questions; just put the answers (and, of course, number them). Make sure you answer every part of every question (i.e. if a question has parts a and b, answer both of them). Your answers should be a sentence or less (except as otherwise specified).



1. In paragraphs 3, 4, and 5, van den Haag talks about the death penalty being unequally distributed among convicts (i.e. some groups of convicts getting the death penalty more or less often than others who committed the same crimes).

a. Does he think that unfairness or inequality in how the death penalty is given out makes the death penalty more or less unjust?

b. Give a quote from one of these paragraphs (paragraphs 3, 4, or 5) that supports your answer to a.



2. In paragraphs 6 and 7, van den Haag talks about "miscarriages of justice." What does he mean by this?



3. In paragraphs 6 and 7, van den Haag talks about "miscarriages of justice" as a potential argument against the death penalty.

a. Does he think the fact that miscarriages of justice occur shows that we should not have the death penalty?

b. Explain his reasoning in your own words (this might take more than one sentence).



4. In paragraph 9, van den Haag says, "Whereas the lives of the victims who might be saved are valuable, that of the murderer has only negative value..."

a. Explain what he means in terms of good and bad, or right and wrong.

b. In your own words, explain why he brings this up (explaining this might take more than one sentence)?



5. In paragraph 11, van den Haag says, "the infliction of legal punishment on a guilty person cannot be unjust."

a. Make that into a conditional sentence.

b. Can you show that is wrong? If so, give an example that shows it is wrong.