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Difference between revisions of "Anarchism and capital punishment"
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| − | + | As '''anarchism''', as an ideology, stands against the concept of the [[state]] and arms-backed governance, '''capital punishment''' by the state is seen within anarchist theory as a form of premeditated revenge [[murder]]. [[anarcho-pacifism|Anarcho-pacifists]], who are actively [[nonviolence|non-violent]], are probably the most strident against the usage, sponsorship or legalization of [[capital punishment]]. Anarchists have significant influence in the political movement against capital punishment.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/22753/anarchism/224802/Contemporary-anarchism anarchism: Contemporary anarchism] ''Britannica Online''</ref> | |
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| + | ==The use of capital punishment== | ||
| + | According to most state governments, capital punishment is used against the committers of what are defined in the particular society as the most heinous crimes; in societies which retain capital punishment, murder is probably the most common crime that could be classified as a [[capital crime]], or a crime that is worthy of capital punishment. | ||
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| + | The intended or "official" effect of a capital punishment is fourfold: | ||
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| + | * It would "right" the wrong committed by the sentenced individual. | ||
| + | * It would bring some "closure" to victim(s) of the crime committed by the sentenced individual | ||
| + | * It would be the ultimate defense or protection of the victim by the state from the convicted criminal who aggressed once against the victim and, according to the state, could do the same again against the victim(s) or someone else if the convicted were not executed or were set free. | ||
| + | * It would serve as a notice to other would-be criminals in order to perturb them from committing similar crimes that would warrant a similar reaction. | ||
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| + | ==Anarchist views on capital punishment== | ||
| + | [[Image:Emma Goldman.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Emma Goldman viewed capital punishment as murderous state action.]] | ||
| + | [[Emma Goldman]] viewed capital punishment as a murderous state action that fails to result in any permanent or lasting reduction of murderous or heinous crime: | ||
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| + | <blockquote>The most absurd apology for authority and law is that they serve to diminish crime. Aside from the fact that the State is itself the greatest criminal, breaking every written and natural law, stealing in the form of taxes, killing in the form of war and capital punishment, it has come to an absolute standstill in coping with crime. It has failed utterly to destroy or even minimize the horrible scourge of its own creation. | ||
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| + | Crime is naught but misdirected energy. So long as every institution of today, economic, political, social, and moral, conspires to misdirect human energy into wrong channels; so long as most people are out of place doing the things they hate to do, living a life they loathe to live, crime will be inevitable, and all the laws on the statutes can only increase, but never do away with, crime. What does society, as it exists today, know of the process of despair, the poverty, the horrors, the fearful struggle the human soul must pass on its way to crime and degradation.<ref>[http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/goldman/Writings/Anarchism/anarchism.html ANARCHISM: WHAT IT REALLY STANDS FOR], by [[Emma Goldman]]</ref></blockquote> | ||
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| + | According to [[United States|American]] anarchist, author and essayist [[Edward Abbey]], "The true, unacknowledged purpose of capital punishment is to inspire fear and awe - fear and awe of the State."<ref>[http://home.att.net/~hugh2you/abbey.html The Late Edward Abbey - Beloved Desert Anarchist]</ref> | ||
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| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <references /> | ||
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| + | ==External Links== | ||
| + | * [http://flag.blackened.net/daver/anarchism//tucker/tucker12.html Anarchism and Capital Punishment] excerpted from the book ''Individual Liberty: Selections From the Writings of [[Benjamin R. Tucker]]'' | ||
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| + | [[Category:Anarchism]] | ||
Revision as of 18:55, 9 February 2009
As anarchism, as an ideology, stands against the concept of the state and arms-backed governance, capital punishment by the state is seen within anarchist theory as a form of premeditated revenge murder. Anarcho-pacifists, who are actively non-violent, are probably the most strident against the usage, sponsorship or legalization of capital punishment. Anarchists have significant influence in the political movement against capital punishment.[1]
Contents
The use of capital punishment
According to most state governments, capital punishment is used against the committers of what are defined in the particular society as the most heinous crimes; in societies which retain capital punishment, murder is probably the most common crime that could be classified as a capital crime, or a crime that is worthy of capital punishment.
The intended or "official" effect of a capital punishment is fourfold:
- It would "right" the wrong committed by the sentenced individual.
- It would bring some "closure" to victim(s) of the crime committed by the sentenced individual
- It would be the ultimate defense or protection of the victim by the state from the convicted criminal who aggressed once against the victim and, according to the state, could do the same again against the victim(s) or someone else if the convicted were not executed or were set free.
- It would serve as a notice to other would-be criminals in order to perturb them from committing similar crimes that would warrant a similar reaction.
Anarchist views on capital punishment
Emma Goldman viewed capital punishment as a murderous state action that fails to result in any permanent or lasting reduction of murderous or heinous crime:
The most absurd apology for authority and law is that they serve to diminish crime. Aside from the fact that the State is itself the greatest criminal, breaking every written and natural law, stealing in the form of taxes, killing in the form of war and capital punishment, it has come to an absolute standstill in coping with crime. It has failed utterly to destroy or even minimize the horrible scourge of its own creation. Crime is naught but misdirected energy. So long as every institution of today, economic, political, social, and moral, conspires to misdirect human energy into wrong channels; so long as most people are out of place doing the things they hate to do, living a life they loathe to live, crime will be inevitable, and all the laws on the statutes can only increase, but never do away with, crime. What does society, as it exists today, know of the process of despair, the poverty, the horrors, the fearful struggle the human soul must pass on its way to crime and degradation.[2]
According to American anarchist, author and essayist Edward Abbey, "The true, unacknowledged purpose of capital punishment is to inspire fear and awe - fear and awe of the State."[3]
References
- ↑ anarchism: Contemporary anarchism Britannica Online
- ↑ ANARCHISM: WHAT IT REALLY STANDS FOR, by Emma Goldman
- ↑ The Late Edward Abbey - Beloved Desert Anarchist
External Links
- Anarchism and Capital Punishment excerpted from the book Individual Liberty: Selections From the Writings of Benjamin R. Tucker
