Zizek and capital punishment

Nathan Newman nathan at newman.org
Fri Jun 8 12:12:48 PDT 2001


Actually, the more interesting aspect of the Gilmore case was the fact that Gilmore wanted to be put to death, arguing that sitting on death row was far more cruel and inhumane than getting the thing over with, yet the ACLU and others demanded the right to override Gilmore's wishes and keep his case alive.

Many argued that Gilmore was undercutting opposition to the death penalty by allowing himself to die, so it was essentially better that he suffer against his wishes, so that others could live.

But is that any different from those who argue that it is better that some die to prevent murders against others?

There was a utilitarian calculus by the ACLU in wanting to override Gilmore's wish to die, just as there is a utilitarian calculus in those wanting to kill those who wish to live.

-- Nathan Newman

----- Original Message ----- From: <s-t-t at juno.com> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Monday, May 28, 2001 10:51 PM Subject: Zizek and capital punishment

I was wondering if anyone on LBO-Talk knows what Slavoj Zizek's position on the death penalty is? I was reading his essay "Death and the Maiden" in which he said 1977 death row inmate Gary Gilmore's request for the governor of Utah to put him to death "profoundly shatters the humanitarian foundations of the opponents of the death penalty." Why? And is this, to Zizek, merely the refutation of a particular opposition to capital punishment or is he claiming Gary Gilmore's desire to be killed by the state invalidates any argument against ritual sacrifice by the state?

For a bit more context, the reference to Gilmore arose out of his critique, among other films, of _Dead Man Walking_, which Zizek was using in an effort to demonstrate the perversity of excess Goodness. Capital punishment was only addressed tangentially.

-- Shane

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