Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site cbosgd.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!hou5h!hou5a!hou5d!hogpc!houxm!ihnp4!cbosgd!guest
From: guest@cbosgd.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.philosophy
Subject: unsolved problems in philosophy
Message-ID: <255@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Aug-83 13:20:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.255
Posted: Tue Aug 30 13:20:25 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 1-Sep-83 05:35:37 EDT
Organization: Bell Labs, Columbus
Lines: 40

Here are a couple of problems in philosophy that haven't been dealt with
well yet by any philosopher.  I did this intentionally so that we will 
have to *think* about the solution instead of reading a prewritten script,
as some of us seem to do.  For those of you that have been accused of being 
"also rans", nows your chance to vindicate yourselves !

First problem - "Punishment"

What should be the proper level of punishment for a given crime against 
a persons rights ?

Some pathalogical examples -

Suppose I *just happen* to be watching my house through the telescope of
a high powered rifle on top of the roof of a nearby building.  While 
watching my house I discover that a thief has stolen *a penney* (suppose
somehow I know for sure that this is all the thief stole, say a glass house!).
Do I, or don't I have the right to shoot the thief ?

Suppose again that a thief steals a penny, but this time from a miser.  The
miser upon discovering this, has a heart attack and dies.  Should the thief
be tried for some degree of murder ?

Second problem - "Safety standards"

Some examples -

Suppose I build a building on my property that could fall down on my
neighbors property.  Should I be compelled to build it according to some
level of safety ?  What level of safety ?  Why ?

Would it be wrong to drive while intoxicated (or high) on public roads 
even though one does not harm anyone or anything.  Did I violate anyones
rights ?

If this gets picked up in discussion I'll give my solutions and their
justifications, not proofs, to these problems.

Larry Cipriani
cbosgd!cbscd5!lvc