The Greatest Happiness Of The Greatest Number

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Submitted by:

Hasnat Hanif

Student # 201520158

Submitted to:

Schaire Tavcer

CRJS 1001-001&002

Mount Royal University

Submitted on:

January 29th 2013

What are the specific aims & purposes of the criminal law? To what extent does the criminal law control behaviour? Do you believe that the law is too restrictive or not restrictive enough?

Criminal law has several aims towards preventing harm, murder, youth violence, robbery, theft as well as driving while impaired, sexual assaults, treason, racial discrimination and all others crimes that cripple society. This includes everything to smaller petty crimes. However, a main purpose of criminal law is to create balance and flourishing society. It prevents society from self-destructing and creates a living moral standard for individuals within a society to cooperate with one another and make a better desirable living society for people to live. Criminal law also creates safe haven for victims to appeal for justice in society, as well as provides equal chances for both sides to appeal for justice.

Criminal law uses fear and consequences as the power to control an individual’s criminal behavior. The power of fear and consequences stops criminal behavior. For example; a person murders another person, minimum punishment is life behind bars. Therefore, fear of life prison would be great asset for controlling criminal behavior. Some countries use the fear of capital punishment to stop the crime rate of murder, rape and theft. It has proven fear of death is stronger in controlling criminal behavior.

On the other hand, opposition forces such as, addiction, goals to succeed, fear of death or loyalty to gang is superior also. "Utilitarianism"; criminals tend to achieve "The greatest happiness of the greatest number" (Webber, M, 2012, Para. 1) This theory is also connected with the nature of human being; both work as an instrument to achieve happiness at all cost and dismantle fear and consequence from happiness. For instance; a criminal person will always think about greatest happiness/achievement for his cause rather than opposite towards consequences of breaking law. Therefore, Criminal law is effective by the power of fear and consequences to some extend but; a human’s nature toward utilitarianism and other forces are also competitive against fear.

Furthermore, Laws can only be named restrictive by determining criminal behavior controlled by laws and prevention rate. As compared to the recent statistics from (Crime Stats: Canada vs Qatar & Crime Stats: Canada vs Saudi Arabia, 2013, n.p) Comparing countries of criminal law and sharia law, it seems laws are not as severe in countries like Canada, United States and some European countries. It means, laws are made to delay the criminal activity not eliminate it permanently. As well as, laws are not restrictive enough in Canada. These statistic shows, countries with capital punishment have greater prevention rate and lower crime rate then countries that do not. As mentioned above in the paragraph, laws use power of fear and consequences but, capital punishment creates greater fear and consequences for criminal violators. Therefore, laws in Canada are not restrictive enough to produce less criminal activity.

Assuming that males are more violent than females; does that mean that crime has a biological rather than social basis (because males & females share similar environment)?

Generally, assumptions are made males are more violent and aggressive than females in every society. Male and female biological differences are far superior than social basis to some extent but it does not mean social basis are not active either. Biologically, the issue of behavior can be determined within the functions of genetic hormones of both genders. From a biologically perspective; Male has different hormonal functions then female therefore, male acts differently than female and have greatly different sex drives from both genders. A research done by Marcia & Melissa (1995)"Evidence displays that a gonadal hormone through prenatal and neonatal development effected behavior is reviewed. Numerous theoretical models of hormonal influences, derived from research in other species, are described. These models are evaluated on the basis of data from humans with either normal or abnormal hormonal exposure. Gonadal hormones appear to influence development of some human behaviors that show sex differences in male and female. The evidence is strongest for childhood play behavior and is relatively strong for sexual orientation and tendencies toward aggression. Also, high levels of hormones do not enhance intelligence, although a minimum level may be needed for optimal development of some cognitive processes"(n.p). Therefore; hormones do play an important role in gender behaviors.

However, on the other hand, social basis also play important role in male dominance. Every society and culture in world demands males living within society or following specific culture should be superior. Besides, people do encourage those who are violent to be more violent to gain respect around surrounding people or Kirst-Ashman and Hull(2009) explained, "A person-in environment focus sees people as constantly interacting with various systems around them. This system includes the family, friends, work, social services, politics, religion, goods and services, and educational systems. The person is portrayed as being dynamically involved with each. Social work practice then is directed at improving the intentions between the person and various systems. This focus is referred to as improving person in environment fit".(as stated in Understanding Human Behavior and the Social Environment, 2010, P. 21).

For example; Social basis made up off cultural, family, societal etc. An individual certainly will come in touch with these experiences of life. Experiences can be family problems, friends, cultures promoting violence and many other reasons. In the end, result combines up towards females and males. Male and Female both can be influenced by these environments and make them violent. Therefore, an answer is distributed between biological and social basis. Males are more violent and vise versa; comparison can only be determined using biological and social basis in extracting the cause. From biological perspective answer point towards the hormonal effects different from one another and social basis male and female behaviors are determined by influences that surround them.

Do you agree with the assignment that for young people, a school is one of the most dangerous locations in a community? Did you find your high school to be dangerous environment?

The main purpose of the school or any other institutional environment is to provide knowledge to save lives, rather than taking lives. The school creates self-awareness of good and bad, give kids education to be the change to come and other great purposes that benefit the society. More importantly "a fundamental purpose of promote an awareness of other ways of doing things and confronted by difference, to be changed, and to effect change. Education is a conduit to different cultures, different places, different times - to different ways of thinking about things and doing things". (What is the purpose of education (in 500 words or fewer), 2011, Para. 13&15)

In some religious state countries or developing states, societies and cultures consider school an environment to become individuals to support families, gain respect and eliminate poverty. (Bernstein. J, 2007) explained "education by itself is a necessary insufficient antipoverty tool" (Para. 4) Therefore, knowledge is a key to success for them and school is only way for them to obtain and eliminate poverty from their lives. For example; In Muslim schools and cultures, school must teach children with right and wrong of life, slowly building up principles of living within society, respect of adults, respect for older individuals and most importantly, respect for the human life along with education to survive in world. However, these examples doesn’t necessary mean are only taught in (Muslim schools or cultures) but also taught in other school, in different manner and teaching styles. Coming back to main point; choice of environment within the school matters; choice of school is not the problem in community. School is an institution of morally good choices of life. Besides, school is one of the largest agents of socialization to teach ethical values and ultimately prevent individuals becoming involved in the criminal justice system. However, within these schools the peers around us can have a major impact on the choices we make as well which can In turn make school a dangerous place as well. For example, a student in school with good grades can easily become involved with a group of Individuals who have values such as smoking, drinking, theft, abuse of illegal drugs such as marijuana. The interactions with this group of people will cause these individuals to brace these negative values.

In my school experiences, school has be a safe environment for me. The choice of environment was decisions I had to make every time, which group should I hang out with? Most importantly; hanging out with guys from same culture was always insisted by my parents. Even as, me and my friends did make into the bad environment but, we had our own limits and boundaries not too cross. One thing was clear concerning with drugs and alcohol was strongly condemned by our religion and parents. Therefore, most of the problem regarding drugs and alcohol was not a problem for us. As mentioned above, choice of environment was great choices we made. Choice of school was not the problem.

Therefore, school does not matter, which school does an individual ends up inside. Important thing is the choices of decisions an individual has to make and hanging around with groups of people. If we choose bad environments, we definitely will end up catching bad things and choosing good environment, will definitely but surly will catch good things to learn.