It’s known as ‘the button scene’. At the climax of the misogynistic comedy How to Murder Your Wife, Jack Lemon’s character draws a button in chalk on a bar in front of the jury at his trial.

It’s a life-or-death situation. He has pleaded guilty to a murder he did not commit, and the likely sentence is the electric chair.

Lemon’s character persuades his defence attorney – played with perfection by Eddie Mayehoff – that pushing the button would rid the solicitor of his wife.

“Just push the button and she’s gone, no-one will ever know.” A philosopher would call it a ‘thought experiment’.

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As Lemon paints a picture of what Mayehoff’s life would be like without his wife, the lawyer’s thumb moves ever closer to the button.

Lemon shows the jury that wishing is not the same as doing. He is acquitted.

You can see the scene played out on YouTube, or better still watch the movie (though, given it’s my fortieth wedding anniversary on Sunday, I’ll maybe give it a diplomatic miss).

Of course, we know murder is wrong regardless of who the individual is. That’s the reason why decent people oppose capital punishment,........

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