EL PROJECT
2015
Wong Yi Jie (26)
Daniel Lim (4)
Ong Li Han (19)
Nigel Wong (18)
Lam Jing Siang (10)
ADAM
SMITH!!!
ADAM SMITH
16 June 1723 - 17 June 1790
Philosopher
Economist
Best known for lying foundations of
classical free market theory (not for his moral philosophies)
ADAM SMITH
Core idea: sympathy to others
● Morality located in how sympathetic their actions are to an impartial spectator; a person should try
his best to sympathise and be sympathetic
● Form of moral sentimentalism; different from Kantianism or Consequentialism
● Based on feelings instead of rules
Moral Sentimentalism
Kantianism/Consequentialism
ADAM SMITH
●



Harshness of punishment based off motivation and consequences of punishment
A victim would feel resentment, which would be sympathetic, justifying the motivation
But it is hard to say at what point is his resentment overboard, and thus unjustified
Also need to take into consideration the feelings of sadness that come with
consequences
● JUDGEMENT relies on impartial feelings
SNOWDEN
SNOWDEN
Dec. 1, 2012: Reaches out to
Glenn Greenwald, a lawyer and
columnist for The Guardian.
March 2012: Moves to Hawaii
to work at a NSA facility as Dell
employee.
Jan. 2013: Reaches out to Laura
Poitras, a documentary
filmmaker.
SNOWDEN
May 20, 2013: Arrives in Hong
Kong from Hawaii.
June 6, 2013: The Guardian and the
Washington Post each publish an article
about the NSA program PRISM, which
forces biggest US internet companies to
hand over data on domestic users.
June 5, 2013: First revelations are
published in a Guardian article about
NSA’s collection of domestic email and
telephone metadata as part of even broader
collection effort.
SNOWDEN
June 14, 2013: The U.S. Justice
Department charges Snowden
June 8, 2013: The Guardian
publishes NSA slides on Boundless
Informant, which shows NSA
collected nearly 3 billion pieces of
intelligence inside the U.S. in
February 2013 alone.
August 1, 2013: Granted
temporary asylum by Russian
authorities
June 23, 2013: Snowden leaves
Hong Kong for Ecuador but is
stranded at Sheremetyevo
International Airport in Moscow
after passport is rescinded
LIBERAL (WASHINGTON POST)
WORD
FREQUENCY
CONTEXT
Snowden
148
Description; minimal accusation
US
48
Describes domestic actions
surveillance
36
Described as an action
asylum
32
Describes Snowden’s actions; discussion on legality
treason
31
Discussion; rarely used for accusation
whistleblower
20
Chosen for neutrality
LIBERAL (WASHINGTON POST)
LIBERAL AMERICAN(WASHINGTON POST)
“Snowden” is mostly used in the context
of elaborating on Edward Snowden’s
background and his action, showing an
objective and hence more neutral stance
to the issue.
LIBERAL (WASHINGTON POST)
“U.S.” is used in conjunction with terms like
“surveillance”, “intelligence” and “government”,
indicating that the focus is on the domestic
decisions made by the US rather than the actions
of the US in the global community.
CONSERVATIVE (WASHINGTON TIMES)
WORD
FREQUENCY
CONTEXT
Mr. Snowden
75
Discuss punishment
US
48
Describe action as a nation
surveillance
23
Described as a procedure
asylum
20
used with Snowden as passive voice;
downplays Snowden
leaker
15
negative connotation
CONSERVATIVE (WASHINGTON TIMES)
“Mr. Snowden” is used to describe the punishment that
Edward Snowden should receive for his actions, mostly
debating about whether or not he should receive asylum
from other nations, rarely about his actual actions. This
indicates that the writer has already deemed Snowden’s
actions as morally incorrect and now the debate lies in
whether his treatment is appropriate.
CONSERVATIVE (WASHINGTON TIMES)
The term “U.S.” is also commonly used, but in this
case, by itself, referring to the country and not
specific facets of it or actions by it. This shows the
focus of these articles is on politics on a global
scale, with the US as a nation facing off against the
nations sheltering Snowden.
CONSERVATIVE (WASHINGTON TIMES)
“Surveillance” is mostly used in conjunction with
“program” or “system”, implying that it is a
procedure set it place that cannot be altered easily,
removing the implication that the surveillance was
a possibly flawed human action.
LIBERAL (WASHINGTON POST)
● Debates the morality of Snowden’s actions
● Believe in government action to achieve equality for all
● Tolerate law-breaking
● Upset by undermining government
CONSERVATIVE (WASHINGTON TIMES)
● Snowden is a criminal; discusses morality of asylum
● Believe in personal responsibility and traditional American values
● Snowden should accept responsibility
● Fear of American secrets being leaked
SINGAPOREAN
WORD
FREQUENCY CONTEXT
Snowden
26
Shows focus of articles
Publish/Posted
18
Tone-Neutral Verbs
Refering to US
(US/USA)
12
Shows focus of articles
Asylum
6
Describing actions
Accused
5
Used as a negative term
SINGAPOREAN
Generally does not take a stand
Logical course of action for Singapore because of sociopolitcal context
STUDY
Singapore, Denmark, Saudi Arabia
Vastly different societal contexts
Singapore: Conservative, Utilitarian
Denmark: Socially Progressive
Saudi Arabia: Theocracy
SAUDI ARABIA
Widely known for its cruel ways of execution
Beheading:
Might seem like a relatively morally right way of execution.
Western countries use guillotine that ends a person’s life in a
single chop.
However, in the Islamic way, beheading is done in three cuts,
aiming to bring some form of pain and torture to the accused.
Stoning:
The worst way to be executed
Tortured to death
Majority of people that are stoned are female
SAUDI ARABIA
Background:
Satinah Binti Jumadi Ahmad,
a 40-year old Indonesian working as a housemaid in the Gulf kingdom,
sentenced to death in 2011
admitted to killing her 70-year-old female employer and stealing approximately
$10,000.
She said it was in self-defense as her employer had been attempting to
sexually assault her at the time.
SAUDI ARABIA
Indonesian government offered to pay 7 million Saudi riyals in “blood
money”, a figure that had been negotiated down from an initial request
of 10 million Saudi riyals, thus saving the accused from execution.
SAUDI ARABIA
Interesting
perspectives:
Religion cannot be changed
Many people forget that some things in Islamic
countries simply cannot be undone.
Sharia cannot be undone, as it is impossible to
cancel, for example, the Bible. After all, the Quran
prescribes certain standards of behavior in
everyday life. This is the word of God, and no one
can cancel or change it.
Sexist!!
The Saudi Arabian law, however, is widely known
to be sexist and do not grant women the rights they
deserve (according to western philosophies),
despite the employer of the Indonesian maid
attempting to rape her, the maid was still
sentenced to death despite her claims for selfdefence
SAUDI ARABIA
Recommended punishment by Judge Lam:
A lighter sentence should have been given in consideration of the claim of selfdefense.
Further investigations have to find out if she was using this opportunity to
purposefully kill her employer or was it a crime of passion.
If she intended to kill her employer once and for all, she deserves capital
punishment. ( preferably lethal injection )
If her actions were taken under pressure or extraordinary amounts of stress,
especially in a struggle for life or death, imprisonment might be a fairer
punishment than execution.
SINGAPORE
Death penalty for many different crimes, e.g. drugs
traditional Chinese beliefs which hold that harsh punishment deters crime
Usually by hanging: Fridays in Changi prison
General belief that the death penalty is an effective tool
(low crime rates)
SINGAPORE
2008: Jabing Kho and Galing Anak Kujat violently robbed construction worker Cao
Ruyin and Wu Jun near Geylang Drive
Bludgeoned Cao’s head with a tree branch so hard head cracked open
Cao found with 14 skull fractures, died of head injuries six days later.
SINGAPORE
2010: Kho and Galing receive the mandatory death sentence.
2011: Galing is convicted of robbery with hurt and sentenced to 18 years
and six months’ jail with 19 strokes of the cane. Kho’s death sentence is
affirmed by the Court of Appeal.
2013: Jabing is re-sentenced to life in prison with 24 strokes of the cane.
2015: Majority of the five-judge Court of Appeal approve the plea and
impose the death penalty on Kho.
SINGAPORE: CONSIDERATIONS
Poorer people might not be able to hire better lawyers to defend
themselves
No actual guideline to determine whether a person should be sentenced
to death, or receive other forms of punishment
Judges have to make their own decisions
SINGAPORE
RECOMMENDED PUNISHMENT
DEATH
Had already achieved aim of
robbing the two victims
Continued to viciously bludgeon the
victim
Disregard for human life, making
him a dangerous menace to society
Deterrence
Utilitarian view
DENMARK
● One of most socially progressive
countries(emphasis on equality)
● Focuses on rehabilitation
● Solve the problem, not punish the crime
DENMARK
Peter Lundin
In April 1991, strangled his mother and buried her on the beach
3 July 2000: Marianne Pedersen and her two sons were declared
missing.
5 July 2000: Police discovered blood traces and Lundin was arrested.
Found that Pedersen and her sons had been killed and dismembered by
Ludwin
DENMARK: CONSIDERATIONS
1. Families might feel upset
2. Cost of rehabilitation might incur extra expenses
3. Life imprisonment can be considered inhumane too
4. Life imprisonment is expensive, due to daily living expenses
5. Violent psychopaths simply cannot be reformed
DENMARK
RECOMMENDED PUNISHMENT
Earlier strangled his own mother to
death and was subsequently jailed
Refused to learn from his mistakes and
even caused harm to two innocent
children
Found to not be insane, indicating that Beyond saving and reforming as there is
he had full knowledge that what he had little chance that he could be
done was wrong, yet continued to
successfully reintegrated into society
commit such heinous acts such as
Reduce costs of keeping such monsters
dismemberment of human corpses.
alive in prison
Utilitarian view
Prevents him from further committing
such gruesome, inhuman acts.
DEATH
CONCEPT MAP
Women Rights
Retributive theory
Religion
Saudi Arabia
Conservative
Human Dignity
Key Ideas and Concepts
Liberal
Denmark
Equality
Singapore
For the
greater good
Socially
Progressive
Balanced
Consequentialist
Rehabilitation
Utilitarian
SOURCES
Liberal American (The Washington Post)
Capehart, J. (2013, June 11). Edward Snowden isn’t exactly a hero. The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/06/11/edward-snowden-isnt-exactly-a-hero/
Miller, M. (2013, June 11). Matt Miller: Edward Snowden’s grandiosity. The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/matt-miller-edward-snowdens-grandiosity/2013/06/11/b87876e6-d292-11e2-8cbe-1bcbee06f8f8_story.html
Finn, P., Miller, G., Nakashima, E. (2013, June 10). Investigators looking at how Snowden gained access at NSA. The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/nationalsecurity/investigators-looking-at-how-snowden-gained-access-at-nsa/2013/06/10/83b4841a-d209-11e2-8cbe-1bcbee06f8f8_story.html
MsGregor, J. (2013, June 10). Edward Snowden: Hero? Traitor? Leader?. The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-leadership/wp/2013/06/10/edward-snowden-hero-traitor-leader/
Fisher, M. (2013, June 10). Snowden lauded in China: ‘This is the definition of heroism’. The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/06/10/this-is-the-definition-ofheroism-snowden-lauded-in-china/
Fisher, M. (2013, June 10). Edward Snowden could strain to qualify for asylum under international law. The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/06/10/edwardsnowden-could-strain-to-qualify-for-asylum-under-international-law/
Eilperin, J. (2013, June 10). White House petition to pardon Edward Snowden gathers steam The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/06/10/white-house-petitionto-pardon-edward-snowden-gathers-steam/
Jia, L.Y. (2013, June 10). Hong Kong hotel says Edward Snowden was there, but checked out Monday. The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/hong-kong-hotel-saysedward-snowden-was-there-but-checked-out-monday/2013/06/10/44baa0fa-d1af-11e2-a73e-826d299ff459_story.html
Wemple, E. (2013, June 10). Edward Snowden: ‘Leaker,’ ‘source’ or ‘whistleblower’? The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2013/06/10/edward-snowden-leakersource-or-whistleblower/
Nakashima, E. (2013, June 9). From obscurity to notoriety, Snowden took an unusual path. The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/from-obscurity-to-notorietysnowden-took-an-unusual-path/2013/06/09/dc2e4274-d15b-11e2-9f1a-1a7cdee20287_story.html
Lee, T. B. (2013, June 9). Has the US become the type of nation from which you have to seek asylum?. The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/09/has-the-usbecome-the-kind-of-nation-from-which-you-have-to-seek-asylum/
Wemple, E. (2013, June 9). NSA source ID’d: 29-year-old Edward Snowden. The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2013/06/09/nsa-source-edward-snowdenidentified/
Gellman, B. (2013, June 9). Code name ‘Verax’: Snowden, in exchanges with Post reporter, made clear he knew risks. The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/codename-verax-snowden-in-exchanges-with-post-reporter-made-clear-he-knew-risks/2013/06/09/c9a25b54-d14c-11e2-9f1a-1a7cdee20287_story.html
Gellman, B., Markon, J. (2013, June 10). Edward Snowden says motive behind leaks was to expose ‘surveillance state’. The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/edward-snowden-says-motive-behind-leaks-was-to-expose-surveillance-state/2013/06/09/aa3f0804-d13b-11e2-a73e-826d299ff459_story.html
Matthews, D. (2013, June 12). No, Edward Snowden probably didn’t commit treason. The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/12/no-edward-snowden-probablydidnt-commit-treason/
Conservative American (The Washington Times)
Boyer, D. (2013, June 10). Support grows for petition to pardon NSA leaker Edward Snowden. The Washington Times. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/10/support-grows-petition-pardonnsa-leaker-edward-sn/
Sherfinski, D. (2013, June 9). Whistleblower behind leak emerges as intel chiefs in Congress defend NSA surveillance.The Washington Times. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/9/headscongress-intelligence-committees-defend-surv/
Waterman, S. (2013, June 17). NSA leaker says audits on gov’t snooping don’t work.The Washington Times. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/17/nsa-leaker-says-audits-govt-snoopingdont-work/
SOURCES
Chumley, C. K. (2013, June 14). Lawmakers downplay Edward Snowden: ‘He was lying’ about NSA.The Washington Times. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/14/lawmakers-downplay-edward-snowden-he-was-lying-abo/
Chumley, C. K. (2013, June 12). NSA leaker Edward Snowden goes dark, believed to be in safe house.The Washington Times. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/12/nsa-leaker-edward-snowden-goes-dark-believed-be-sa/
Chumley, C. K. (2013, June 11). Booz Allen fires NSA leaker Edward Snowden.The Washington Times. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/11/booz-allen-fires-nsa-leaker-edward-snowden/
Sherfinski, D. (2013, June 24). Hong Kong, Russia, Cuba? Ed Snowden’s true motive is to injure national security, White House says. The Washington Times. Retrieved 7
February 2015 from: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/24/actions-suggest-ed-snowdens-true-motive-injure-nat/
Waterman, S. (2013, June 24). Irony: Edward Snowden chooses havens that repress Internet freedoms. The Washington Times. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/24/where-world-edward-snowden-leaker-vanishes-after-f/
Boyer, D. (2013, June 24). White House slams Hong Kong, China for shielding leaker.: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/24/white-house-slams-hong-kong-chinashielding-leaker/
Lambro, D. (2013, July 3). LAMBRO: The foolish wager of Edward Snowden. The Washington Times. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/3/the-foolish-wager-of-edward-snowden/?page=1
Pruden, W. (2013, June 25). PRUDEN: Barack Obama’s enduring ineptitude. The Washington Times. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/25/pruden-barack-obamas-enduring-ineptitude/
Deflem, M. (2013, June 26). LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Don’t give Snowden what he wants. The Washington Times. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/26/dont-give-snowden-what-he-wants/
Sherfinski, D. (2013, July 8). Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg: Edward Snowden is right to flee U.S.. The Washington Times. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/8/pentagon-papers-leaker-daniel-ellsberg-edward-snow/
Yost, P. (2013, July 26). Eric Holder says U.S. won’t seek death penalty for NSA leaker Edward Snowden. The Washington Times. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/26/eric-holder-says-us-wont-seek-death-penalty-nsa-le/
Tyrell, R. E. (2013, July 11). TYRRELL: Edward Snowden’s just rewards. The Washington Times. Retrieved 7 February 2015 from:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/11/edward-snowdens-just-rewards/
SOURCES
Singaporean
(2014, September 24). Whistle Blower Edward Snowden wins Swedish rights prize. The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 February 2015 from:
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/world/europe/story/us-whistleblower-edward-snowden-wins-swedish-rights-prize-20140924
(2015, February 9). US firm that vetted Edward Snowden files for bankruptcy. The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 February 2015 from:
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/world/united-states/story/us-firm-vetted-edward-snowden-files-bankruptcy-20150209
(2015, January 19). China calls Edward Snowden's stealth jet hack accusations 'groundless'. The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 February 2015 from:
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/east-asia/story/china-calls-edward-snowdens-stealth-jet-hack-accusations-groundless-201501
(2014, October 11). Edward Snowden and girlfriend reunited in Moscow, new documentary shows. The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 February 2015 from:
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/world/united-states/story/edward-snowden-and-girlfriend-reunited-moscow-new-documentary-shows-2
(2014, May 28). Edward Snowden says he was trained 'as a spy'. The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 February 2015 from:
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/world/united-states/story/edward-snowden-says-he-was-trained-spy-20140528
(2014, July 31). Edward Snowden a recluse one year on from Russia asylum.The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 February 2015 from:
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/world/united-states/story/edward-snowden-recluse-one-year-russia-asylum-20140731
(2013, June 26). Edward Snowden's father says son 'did what he knew was right'.The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 February 2015 from:
http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/world/story/edward-snowdens-father-says-son-did-what-he-knew-was-right-20130726
(2013, June 15). Hong Kong protesters brave rain to support Snowden.The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 February 2015 from:
http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/world/story/edward-snowdens-father-says-son-did-what-he-knew-was-right-20130726
(2014, Oct 21). Outgoing UK spy chief Iain Lobban rejects Snowden mass surveillance claims. The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 February 2015 from:
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/world/europe/story/outgoing-uk-spy-chief-iain-lobban-rejects-snowden-mass-surveillance-claims-2
THANK YOU!