Should ‘plea bargaining,’ by which people plead guilty to lesser offences in order to get lesser sentences, continue? All the Yes points: Plea bargaining is soft on crime. It means people aren’t properly punished for crimes they’ve commi… In effect, both plea bargaining and discounting violate the accused’s right to a defence, especially… Plea bargaining … Read more
Should former colonial powers pay reparations to former colonies for their past activities? All the Yes points: Colonial-era activity was morally wrong and indefensible. Colonising countries justified their acti… Reparations would represent an important demonstration of the closing of colonial scars. Many of th… There are precedents for paying reparations to states or peoples in … Read more
Should the developed world focus on enabling trade or donating aid as a way to help the developing world? All the Yes points: Trade is a long-term basis for international co-operation. The other partner in a trading relations… Trade allows developing countries to retain their dignity. Aid is often seen as quite a patronising… Trade … Read more
Should you never have children? All the Yes points: Being childfree is a lifestyle choice – and a logical one. The act of having children effectively e… Children are the biggest expenditure most people ever undertake. Are the massive sacrifices needed … Individuals have no moral imperatives beyond behaving properly towards those around them and … Read more
Should governments take steps to keep their threatened languages alive? All the Yes points: There is a value to language that cannot be reduced to the utilitarian ability to communicate with t… Language is a type of cultural heritage. We already recognise the right of groups to preserve parts… Governments have a duty to preserve … Read more
Should the criminal justice system focus more on rehabilitation than retribution? All the Yes points: Which is a better general justifying aim for punishment?\Rehabilitation is the most valuable ideol… Which approach has greater regard for the offender?\Rehabilitation has another important value – i… Which is a better basis for determining sentencing?\As a guide to the … Read more
