DEBATE CASE
"An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind."
Because I agree with Mahatma Gandhi, I affirm the resolution which states Resolved: Rehabilitation ought to be valued above Retribution in the US Criminal Justice System.
To clarify the round, I offer the following definitions:
Retribution: punishment is intentional harming, with the aim of harming.
(Encyclopedia of Criminal Justice Nick Smith, University of New Hampshire Department of Philosophy)
Ought to be valued above: Moral obligated to hold in a higher regard.
Rehabilitation: . to restore to a former state (as of efficiency, good management, or solvency) (Merriam-Webster)
US Criminal Justice System:
My value for this round will be Sanctity of Life. Sanctity of Life states that life is sacred; and if an action should harm life, it becomes immoral/unjustified. This is the paramount value because if we do not put life first, other values and rights cannot be enjoyed.
Retribution would defy sanctity of life due to the fact it would be lessening the importance of an one's life, making individuals more disposable.
To achieve Sanctity of Life, however, we would need to think in a moral in unbias way. That is why my criterion for this round is Rawl's Veil of Ignorance. The Veil of Ignorance states that when one is under the veil, they do not know their place or standing in society, thus choosing the moral option. Under the veil, Rehabilitation would prove prominent to Retribution, as more people would choose Rehabilitation; proving its morality.
CONTENTION 1: REPEAT OFFENDERS ARE AT A HIGH IN THE UNITED STATES DUE TO LACK OF REHABILITATION SERVICES
As a country, we must value life above all else, ensuring the life and well-being of our citizens. This is why we ought to value Rehabilitation above Retribution. The percentile of repeat offenders in the US has escalated in recent years; such a high rate is unnecessary. According to a 2011 article by Kevin Johnson in USA Today, "slightly
Because I agree with Mahatma Gandhi, I affirm the resolution which states Resolved: Rehabilitation ought to be valued above Retribution in the US Criminal Justice System.
To clarify the round, I offer the following definitions:
Retribution: punishment is intentional harming, with the aim of harming.
(Encyclopedia of Criminal Justice Nick Smith, University of New Hampshire Department of Philosophy)
Ought to be valued above: Moral obligated to hold in a higher regard.
Rehabilitation: . to restore to a former state (as of efficiency, good management, or solvency) (Merriam-Webster)
US Criminal Justice System:
My value for this round will be Sanctity of Life. Sanctity of Life states that life is sacred; and if an action should harm life, it becomes immoral/unjustified. This is the paramount value because if we do not put life first, other values and rights cannot be enjoyed.
Retribution would defy sanctity of life due to the fact it would be lessening the importance of an one's life, making individuals more disposable.
To achieve Sanctity of Life, however, we would need to think in a moral in unbias way. That is why my criterion for this round is Rawl's Veil of Ignorance. The Veil of Ignorance states that when one is under the veil, they do not know their place or standing in society, thus choosing the moral option. Under the veil, Rehabilitation would prove prominent to Retribution, as more people would choose Rehabilitation; proving its morality.
CONTENTION 1: REPEAT OFFENDERS ARE AT A HIGH IN THE UNITED STATES DUE TO LACK OF REHABILITATION SERVICES
As a country, we must value life above all else, ensuring the life and well-being of our citizens. This is why we ought to value Rehabilitation above Retribution. The percentile of repeat offenders in the US has escalated in recent years; such a high rate is unnecessary. According to a 2011 article by Kevin Johnson in USA Today, "slightly