Wisdom Is the Continual Desire

¶ … wisdom is the continual desire to think critically about oneself, the environment in which we live, and the world around us in order to give accurate and enlightened meaning to life and events. Once a person is able to question their beliefs and develop an understanding of how these beliefs impact the lens through which they view the world, they are then able to evaluate the same scenario from several other perspectives.

This ongoing attempt to synthesize and integrate knowledge with our belief system allows for evolving definitions and a life path during which one continually discovers new information. There are many people who can be viewed as critical thinkers by the nature of the profession that they have chose. For example, psychologists can be considered critical thinkers in that they are curious, independent thinkers who continually question how life events and the perspective of the client has influenced what they are currently experiencing.

Critical thinkers may come across as critical of others or continually questioning their beliefs and the beliefs of others when in fact the intention is not to be negative but instead to give meaning to the situation and develop an understanding of the many phenomenon in life.

Analyze an Issue What is your initial point-of-view? The death penalty involves the court's decision to impose the sanction of death upon an individual who has committed a crime that is heinous enough for the judge to belief that the correct sanction is ending the life of the offender. I believe that while sanctions are necessary in order to maintain social order that utilizing the death penalty as a response to capital offenses such as murder is a contradiction in itself.

How Can you Define your Point-of-View More Clearly? From my point-of-view the use of violence as a response to violence is not the manner in which crime should addressed by our legal systems. Our legal system is based upon the concept of punishment and accountability as well as deterrence. Therefore the death penalty is not only viewed as a manner in which people are punished for capital offenses but also as a deterrent for others who may want to commit these crimes.

However, with the rising rates of crime, the deterrence factor of our legal system is clearly losing its hold and instead we are now in the practice of handing down consequences for socially unacceptable behaviors. While this is a necessary process, one must consider the fact that our justice system has a track record for convicting people for crimes that they did not commit and this is not a gamble that we can take with a human life.

An Example of your Point-of-View There are many individuals who are convicted of offenses that they did not commit. For example, in Maryland Kirk Bloodsworth was convicted in 1985 of rape and murder and was sentenced to the death penalty. However, he was released eight years later when DNA proved that his proclaimed innocence was the truth. Further, in the last 3 decades 18 death row inmates have been released after their innocence was proven.

What is the Origin of your Point-of-View I used to belief the old saying "an eye for an eye." That was until I realized that two wrongs did not make a right and the taking of a life should not be answered in kind.

While I have always trusted in the justice system to uphold the law and ensure the safety of the American people from violations of social norms, the astounding rates of individuals being falsely convicted of crimes has significantly shaken the foundation on which my beliefs were built.

What are your Assumptions When I say that I oppose the death penalty, I am assuming that the death penalty does not increase the safety of society nor does it do anything to restore a sense of security to the individuals impacted by the crime. Further I am assuming that there are alternative avenues that do not involve taking a life that would provide the same end result as capital punishment.

What are the Arguments that Support your Point-of-View Opponents of the death penalty point to the capture and imprisonment of the criminal as removing the threat of the individual from society. Therefore it is believed that the death penalty is not a necessary means to ensure safety and instead may send the message that meeting violence with violence is an acceptable course of action. The greatest evidence that supports my position is that of the large reversal rate of sentences in the criminal justice system.

In fact some studies have found that in capital cases this is as high as 50%. Further there are arguments that the economic strain of a death penalty case far outweighs that of life in prison due to the numerous appeals and legal proceedings that are involved. Other Points-of-View Other points-of-view on the death penalty believe that it can serve as a deterrent for those who commit capital offenses. This would then ensure that society in general is safer as more criminals are deterred from engaging in such acts.

Some have also argued that the death penalty provides the emotional compensation to.