Question

How would Jeremy Bentham explain the failure of the death penalty to affect the rate of murder in our society?

A) The death penalty is not severe enough to deter potential murderers.
B) Murderers do not engage in rational decision-making.
C) The death penalty is not consistently applied.
D) Society has not effectively communicated the consequences of the death penalty.

Answer 1

Jeremy Bentham would likely explain the failure of the death penalty to affect the rate of murder in our society by pointing to two main factors: murderers not engaging in rational decision-making and the inconsistency in the application of the death penalty. The correct options are B and C.

Step-by-step explanation:

Jeremy Bentham would likely explain the failure of the death penalty to affect the rate of murder in our society by pointing to two main factors:

1. Murderers do not engage in rational decision-making. Bentham might argue that individuals who commit murder are not deterred by the threat of the death penalty because they are not making rational choices in the first place. They may be driven by strong emotions, mental illness, or other factors that render them incapable of considering the consequences of their actions.
2. The death penalty is not consistently applied. Bentham might also contend that the lack of consistency in the application of the death penalty undermines its effectiveness as a deterrent. If potential murderers perceive that some individuals who commit heinous crimes are not sentenced to death, they may not view the death penalty as a credible threat and therefore feel less deterred from committing murder.

Therefore , the correct options are B and C.