guest@cbosgd.UUCP (08/30/83)
Here are a couple of problems in philosophy that haven't been dealt with well yet by any philosopher. I did this intentionally so that we will have to *think* about the solution instead of reading a prewritten script, as some of us seem to do. For those of you that have been accused of being "also rans", nows your chance to vindicate yourselves ! First problem - "Punishment" What should be the proper level of punishment for a given crime against a persons rights ? Some pathalogical examples - Suppose I *just happen* to be watching my house through the telescope of a high powered rifle on top of the roof of a nearby building. While watching my house I discover that a thief has stolen *a penney* (suppose somehow I know for sure that this is all the thief stole, say a glass house!). Do I, or don't I have the right to shoot the thief ? Suppose again that a thief steals a penny, but this time from a miser. The miser upon discovering this, has a heart attack and dies. Should the thief be tried for some degree of murder ? Second problem - "Safety standards" Some examples - Suppose I build a building on my property that could fall down on my neighbors property. Should I be compelled to build it according to some level of safety ? What level of safety ? Why ? Would it be wrong to drive while intoxicated (or high) on public roads even though one does not harm anyone or anything. Did I violate anyones rights ? If this gets picked up in discussion I'll give my solutions and their justifications, not proofs, to these problems. Larry Cipriani cbosgd!cbscd5!lvc