Death penalty poll

[mark vincent]

The first murderer kills a 25 year old man. The second killer kills a 10 year old girl.

Is one killer more evil than the other?

Yes. A 25 year old man would have a better chance of survival.

But he's already dead

In any case, how does this make the killer less evil? The intent was to kill in both my examples.

Statistically a 25 year old would have better chance of survival, men have always been killing other men. Killing young children is perceived as unnatural

 

[Space cat]

-- men have always been killing other men. Killing young children is perceived as unnatural

There are good evolutionary reasons for that, probably going back to proto-humans who didn't form pairs. With a large surplus of males you could afford to lose some but you would take care to preserve your breeding stock. It's worth noting that infants are protected in baboon society and that adult cats are terrified of kittens.

Statistically a 25 year old would have better chance of survival --

I don't see how this comes into it.