Originally Posted by
Enoch the Red
On what foundation are you building your laws Lewk? How are you even determining that theft is wrong. Why is murder wrong? If you want only look to nature, there are few such natural laws. The powerful prey on the weak. If not nature then what? Western civilization? Roman laws? Greek laws? The The Code of Hammurabi? Philosophers or kings? Secular philosophy or can we include philosophers that have been influenced by religion? If secular philosophy is the only acceptable basis for law, are you then saying that there is no secular philosophy that can conclude that theft is not deserving of a death penalty? I think we are going about this backwards. The foundation of our legal system and the social contract we share as a society are pretty widely studied and understood. What is the reasoning behind and benefit of your thirst for blood? Deterrence? If petty theft is deserving of death in order to deter criminals, why shouldn't speeding be punishable by death? Why not summarily execute jaywalkers? What about marijuana possession? Why should every offense not be a capital one in your mind?
Sure, if someone comes into the home I lock up at night and wakes me from my sleep, I would feel justified using deadly force if I felt threatened. If I left my garage open I would be much happier to lose some power tools, or a frosty beverage than take another's life.