Chapter 35: Utilitarianism
The public carriage staggered, Arthur sat in the carriage and looked out the window, while the little policeman Field sat cramped to the side.
Although the two are not much different in age, even Field is a little older.
However, I don't know why, maybe it's a matter of personal aura, maybe it's because of Arthur's unchanging expression, Field always feels an invisible pressure.
He was silent for a long time, and then he finally couldn't help but ask, "Sir, how did you find out about those cases?" You may not know it, but in the past few days, we have all gone crazy there, and it is amazing that we can see the truth about that hotel murder in just a few words. ”
"Is it magical?"
Arthur leaned against the window: "If you put your mind to it, you can do it in the future."
As long as it is a homicide, it is nothing more than those few laws, either because of feelings, or because of interests.
Although there are indeed people in this world who have lost their conscience and have little humanity, they are very few after all, and you may not meet such people in ten years, and it is difficult for those people to find a pattern in killing, and it is very likely that it is only a temporary intention.
In most cases, those people can only be tracked and pursued by technical means.
However, a minority is a minority, and for most cases, you just need to reason logically.
Generally speaking, it is because as long as a person lives in this society, he will always have some sociality.
Of course, society is changing, so is the sociality of people, and this is really worth noting. ”
Field asked curiously, "Is there any difference between the current sociality and the previous one?" ”
Arthur pursed his lips and said, "Haven't you heard the proclamations of the priests on the street?"
They say that since the beginning of the 19th century, everyone has been looking at money, and that old and beautiful England is gone forever.
Therefore, there are fewer people who kill for love, and there are fewer people who kill for honor, and the rest are for money and profit.
Although they did not say this out of justice, after all, it was well known that the clergy hated the factory owners.
But sometimes, in retrospect, the clergy couldn't be wrong.
Because if you don't have a clue about a case, trying to start with the suspect's money bill is often a surprise finding.
And the robbers, pickpockets and thieves of the streets of London are there.
From day to night, you can see prostitutes singing and soliciting customers everywhere.
Those lawmakers said that the hardships could sharpen their spirits and make them better people.
But they just don't mention that the misery has brought a whopping 30 percent juvenile crime rate to London's East End.
They also say that poverty is due to laziness, but they don't mention that the average worker in the London factory works more than 15 hours.
You may not know, but I studied history in college.
So I know that even in the Middle Ages, when the world was dark and lightless, the poor would not have lived like this.
At that time, they could also have a small stone house in the countryside and collect firewood in the fields.
But what about now?
If you collect firewood in a field in the countryside, you will probably break the law, because it is not your land, and the farmers have no land of their own.
Not to mention the workers, I know that in White Chaibo there are two or three thousand families of more than 10,000 people crammed into 1,400 small dilapidated houses.
And it's not just an isolated case, because places like Beitner-Green or St Giles are even worse than that.
Many London workers have been working in factories since they were six years old, and if they are unlucky, they will fall ill in their teens.
Then, there was no place to want them.
They can only live on the streets, where men sell violence and women sell their bodies.
And we, the police, had to put them in prison and fine.
They may also get some sympathy when they are in prison for the first time.
The second time you go to prison, you may be able to get some forgiveness.
But what about the third and fourth times?
At that time, the jury and the magistrate would no longer be merciful.
Therefore, in fact, as long as a poor person commits the first sin, then his fate is actually predestined.
Either to the gallows or to exile in Australia, without exception.
They have lived like this, but when they die, they will steal their bodies and ...... them."
When Arthur said this, he suddenly felt a little out of breath in his chest, and he remembered what he had seen at St. Thomas's Hospital that day.
He took out his pipe and was about to light it, but hesitated to put it back in his pocket.
Seeing this, Field hurriedly waved his hand and said, "You smoke yours, I don't care about this." ”
Arthur smiled and shook his head: "But I care." ”
Field looked at Arthur and asked strangely, "That's why you want to hang the people who stole the corpses, the people who killed and sold them, and the doctors?" ”
Arthur is not shy about it: "Morally, emotionally, yes. But legally, a corpse is a corpse. We can only hang the people who actually kill people, but we can't hang the people who pay them to kill. ”
Field thought for a moment, and he asked, "Is that the right thing to do?" ”
Arthur looked out the window, the rain was still falling, "I don't know if it's right." I'm just a police officer, and I'm told to stand up for justice and justice, but I don't know what justice is. At least for now, we don't have written laws, because I know a lot of people are not convinced by it. ”
The figure of the Red Devil flickered behind him, and after disappearing overnight, Agareth was dressed differently today.
Not only did he throw away the pitchfork he was carrying, but he also changed into a jet-black robe and even a pair of glasses.
On his shoulder stood a blood-red glassed raven summoned from nowhere, and a parchment scroll with unintelligible words in his hand.
Agareth smiled, rubbed his palms and said, "Arthur, what do you want to do so much?" Your righteousness is justice, and your axioms are justice.
As long as you make up your mind, I can offer you the murderer's position right now. The price is very fair and very cheap.
Let's get this case over quickly, and then we can move on to a greater future. ”
Arthur ignored him, and instead looked out the window, the road ahead seemed to be crowded with people, and even the speed of the carriage slowed down.
Arthura looked out of the window, and the streets looked very familiar to him.
This is Gower Street in London's Bloomsbury district, where he spent four years.
As soon as his head stuck out of the window, he felt a solid slap on the back of the head.
Arthur turned his head to look at Eld's smiling face.
"Arthur! My good brother! I knew you would definitely come today, after all, it was Jeremy Bentham, the spiritual mentor of our University of London students, who was visiting the school today! ”
"Jeremy Bentham?" Arthur was silent for a moment, he seemed to remember something: "Utilitarianism? ”