A total disregard for the human

The death penalty "in some cases"? Yes to torture "under certain conditions"? The invitation to suicide prisoners criminals? This type of speech reflects a "decline" of society and "a total disregard for the human" as the philosopher Thomas De Koninck. It is rather for prevention, rehabilitation and human dignity that we must appeal to these delicate territory.

Recent statements shocks senior conservative politicians never fail to raise fundamental ethical issues, the eminent professor of philosophy at Laval University Thomas De Koninck is a duty and a pleasure to recall. "Every human being has equal dignity and entitled to our respect simply because he is human," he says in an interview with Le Devoir.

In his landmark book On Human Dignity, published in 1995, reissued in 2002, it gives an absolute value to the concept of dignity, like Kant before him. "The progress of a culture must go in the direction of respect, recognition of this dignity."

When Prime Minister Stephen Harper endorse the death penalty and torture "in some cases", when Conservative Senator Pierre-Yves Boisvenu let criminals in prisons and choosing the means to commit suicide, so they hire the company in opposite direction of progress. The word "primitive" and "backward" will return in his words, during the interview.

"This is a call to violence, said the son of the philosopher Charles De Koninck. A return to the law of retaliation, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. And violence is never a solution. "The remarks of Senator Boisvenu, which refer to the" worst "of violence, that against itself, testify to a" total disregard for the human, "he said. Yet Canada does not have a culture of violence as the U.S., he notes. A way that it is better to continue to follow.
  The death penalty was abolished in 1976 in the country. The reasons given on the website of the Ministry of Justice: the risk of wrongful convictions, concerns arising from the fact that a State, to end the life of an individual and uncertainties about the effectiveness of this measure drastically as a deterrent. Since then, debate has resurfaced occasionally in the political arena. The population also seems to still ambivalent on this sensitive issue, as polls now identify (2010, Angus Reid) 69% of Quebecers favor capital punishment, sometimes (February 4, Léger-Marketing) 32%.

For the philosopher, to question these gains reflects a deep cultural problem. And more than polls would require "a genuinely constructive debate" to solve it.

"This reflects the fact that we are in a society that does not give the importance that is due to culture. In proportion as the culture decreases, violence increases. "The development of the human spirit, and thus society, depends above all things culture, he believes. "We see today in particular how the new powers of communication are transforming everything: politics, economy, etc.." His vision of culture embraces the arts, of course. "But at the heart of culture, there is the ethical and at the heart of ethics, recognition of human dignity." This also highlights and especially the importance of education, "that it is most difficult and fascinating in a society. "

Principle of accountability

The public safety reasons used to justify the use of information that would have been collected under torture or to admit the death penalty in certain situations are a "pretext," says De Koninck. "We live in a society very safe. The best way to ensure safety is preventative and it is still education. This is a preventive approach that has advanced our civilization. "

Endorse the death penalty even "under certain conditions" also tends to déresponsibiliser humans, denying his ability to identify, learn, evolve. Thomas De Koninck goes further. He mentions the principle of responsibility of the German philosopher Hans Jonas: one liable to future generations. It is not enough to answer for his actions toward others, here and now. As such, the philosopher also deplores the government's attitude in terms of ecology and environment.

"People will say we are not realistic, but it is ... long-term. Think of the young: we must move towards an ideal of justice and peace, rather than violence. "

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Thomas De Koninck five dates

• 1934: Born in Leuven, Belgium
• 1956: a Rhodes scholarship enabled him to study at Oxford (St. John's College), where he completed his Masters
• 1964: Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy at Laval University, which he was the dean from 1974 to 1978 and where he still teaches
• 1995: publication of the book From human dignity, for which he was awarded the La Bruyere of the French Academy (the first Canadian winner)
• 2004: Chair in "Philosophy in the modern world"

Original Article
Source: le devoir 
Author: Frédérique Doyon