What Are The Arguments In Favor Of The Death Penalty
In Favor of the Death Penalty
Many state legislatures are abolishing the death penalty; but without it, can justice ever really be carried out for murderers? In this essay I will argue in favor of the death penalty. My main argument will be that the death penalty is imperative to carrying out justice in regard to murderers. Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative defends this position stating "Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law" (Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant, pg 88). This is similar to the golden rule that we are taught as children. Treat others as you would like to be treated. By murdering a human being, a person is saying that they would like to be treated in the same manner. The person willed his/her own death in the single act of murder committed.
One main concern with the death penalty is the possibility of it to be carried out on innocent people. This is a risk, and just like many other things people do, they take their chances. Someone could be ran over today by a car, this doesn't …show more content…
Since the United States professes to be one of the most civilized nations in the world, it only follows that the United States should not use the death penalty. The issue that becoming an executioner takes a toll on the state also must be accounted for. Doing so drops someone to the level of the murderer. (Contemporary Moral Problems, White, pg 238) In response, by not dropping ourselves to the level of the murderer to give them just punishment, we are tolerating their cruelty. We are implying that the murder of a human being is comparable to armed robbery, or something else that is punishable by imprisonment. The distinction that murder is much worse than other crimes is enough to outweigh any harm actually carrying out the death penalty may
Many state legislatures are abolishing the death penalty; but without it, can justice ever really be carried out for murderers? In this essay I will argue in favor of the death penalty. My main argument will be that the death penalty is imperative to carrying out justice in regard to murderers. Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative defends this position stating "Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law" (Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant, pg 88). This is similar to the golden rule that we are taught as children. Treat others as you would like to be treated. By murdering a human being, a person is saying that they would like to be treated in the same manner. The person willed his/her own death in the single act of murder committed.
One main concern with the death penalty is the possibility of it to be carried out on innocent people. This is a risk, and just like many other things people do, they take their chances. Someone could be ran over today by a car, this doesn't …show more content…
Since the United States professes to be one of the most civilized nations in the world, it only follows that the United States should not use the death penalty. The issue that becoming an executioner takes a toll on the state also must be accounted for. Doing so drops someone to the level of the murderer. (Contemporary Moral Problems, White, pg 238) In response, by not dropping ourselves to the level of the murderer to give them just punishment, we are tolerating their cruelty. We are implying that the murder of a human being is comparable to armed robbery, or something else that is punishable by imprisonment. The distinction that murder is much worse than other crimes is enough to outweigh any harm actually carrying out the death penalty may