Self-Quiz 4.15: Igor Primoratz, Justifying Legal Punishment

Retributivism is the view that the harshness of a punishment should be based on

what the criminal deserves.

the consequences of carrying out the punishment.

the costs of carrying out the punishment.

All of the above

Some claim that capital punishment is contradictory. Primoratz claims that this objection

is a good one.

begs the question.

applies equally to other punishments.

Both the second and third answer choices are correct.

The claim that execution is proportional to murder relies on the assumption that all human lives are roughly equal in

happiness.

duration.

accomplishments.

None of the above

According to Primoratz, we treat all human lives, qua human lives, as equally valuable because

the values of people's lives demonstrably are equal.

if we didn't, then we'd have to give up the principle of equality of people under the law.

there are no important differences between people's lives.

All of the above

According to Primoratz, what is a greater injustice than mistakenly sentencing an innocent person to death?

Failing to prevent future murders

Applying punishments in a discriminatory way

Systemically failing to give murderers what they deserve

Both the first and second answer choices are correct.

Why doesn't Primoratz think that capital punishment violates the criminal's right to life?

He doesn't believe in the right to life.

He believes in the right to life but claims that it is not absolute.

He claims that by killing someone, a murderer has forfeited all her rights.

Both the second and third answer choices are correct.

How does Primoratz respond to the objection that the death penalty is applied in a discriminatory way?

He denies that this is the case.

He admits that we should place a moratorium on the death penalty for this reason.

He claims that we should reform our justice system but not give up the death penalty.

He claims that discrimination is less important than making sure that murderers are adequately punished.

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