Captain Vere and the Six Concepts of Law

1
Captain Vere and the Six Concepts of Law

• Introduction to Criminal Justice
• JPS 101
• Return to Syllabus

2
Vere Invokes the Law

• Foundation of Law
• Focal Point of Law
• Formation of Law
• Application of Law
• Rationale of Law
• Discretion Within the Law

3
Veres Foundation

• Can Vere determine for himself what is the right
  thing to do?
• How does Vere decide what is the right thing to
  do?
• Does Vere follow his own thinking or does he rely
  upon a code of conduct?

4
Veres Focal Point

• What is more important to Vere, being just or
  pleasing the King?
• What is more important to Vere having order on
  his ship or conducting a fair and impartial
  hearing for Billy?

5
Veres Formation of Law

• How did Veres aspirations for his ship affect
  his decision to hang Billy?
• What was more real to Vere, Billys death or the
  threat of mutiny?
• Was there any ignorance, superstition or
  misunderstanding involved in Veres perception of
  the problem?

6
Veres Application of the Law

• Based upon his understanding of the problem was
  Veres decision to hang Billy understandable?
• Could Vere achieve his goal by hanging Billy?

7
Veres Rationale of Law

• Did Vere actually violate any of Billys rights?
• Was morality enforced by Veres decision?

8
Veres Use of Discretion

• Did Vere believe he had any choice?
• Why not?

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Six Concepts of LawReturn to Syllabus