"Justifying Legal Punishment" Self-Quiz

. 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

all of the above

. According to Primoratz, a punishment is proportional only if it

treats the wrongdoer just as the wrongdoer treated her victim.

deprives the wrongdoer of the same amount of value as that which she deprived her victim of.

ensures that the wrongdoer will not do the same wrong again in the future.

none of the above.

. What is retributivism?

the position that capital punishment is morally permissible

the theory that punishment should be based on what an offender deserves

the position that capital punishment is morally impermissible

the theory that punishment should be based on a wide variety of factors, including its consequences

. What does Primoratz think is the justification for capital punishment?

It is the only punishment proportional to murder.

It is the only cost-effective punishment for murder.

It is the only effective deterrent to murder.

all of the above.

. How does Primoratz respond to the objection that executing a young person is not proportionate to the murder of an elderly person?

He admits that capital punishment may not be justified in that case.

He claims that anyone who would murder an elderly person has a less valuable life.

He claims that anyone who would murder an elderly person has no claim to proportionate punishment.

He asserts that all lives are equally valuable.

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