crime and punishment

Question 1

sin&crime

Answer 1

• when someone breaks the law they commit a crime
• laws show what acceptable behaviour is so people can live safely and without fear
• laws made by government can vary from country to country
• what is lawful can change over time. e.g homosexuality was illegal in this country but not anymore
• sin is an action against the will or laws of god.
• some sins are crimes e.g murder + stealing
• other sins such as adulterous + pride not against the law

Question 2

absolute & relative morality

Answer 2

• absolute is when a person firmly believes that can action should always apply. e.g ‘stealing is wrong’. applies in all situations, no matter what the context or circumstance. belief that it is wrong to kill would apply in all situations such as war, abortion + euthanasia. no circumstance where it is acceptable
• relative is the idea that a moral principle can be adapted or adjusted in certain situations. stealing in principle is wrong but can be seen as acceptable
• humanist peter singer argues cases if abirtion and euthanasia are relative because we need to consider the circumstances such as quality of a person’s life

Question 3

aimes of punishment

Answer 3

• when criminal found guilty, number of punishment options available to judge such as prison, fines and community service. a judge will consider the advantages and drawbacks of several different purposes when sentencing a person for the crime they have committed
  three main aims of punishment:
  retribution - make criminal pay for crime through punishment like death penalty
  deterrence - punishment so severe it puts other people off committing the crime such as large fines/long prison terms
  rehabilitation- helping criminals to reform (change) so they won’t commit crime again such as providing counselling + education

Question 4

sources of authority

Answer 4

“whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed” genesis 9:6
“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” exodus 21:24
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth’. But I tell you: “Turn the other cheek” Jesus in Matthew 5
“If bloodless means can be used they should, but if public safety is at risk then it can be used” Pope John Paul II Evangelium Vitae