The Death Penalty Ethical In Today's Society

Edward I. Koch uses his essay “The Death Penalty: Can It Ever Be Justified?” to defend capital punishment. He believes that justice for murderous crimes is essential for the success of the nation. The possibility of error is of no concern to Koch and if would-be murderers can be deterred from committing these heinous crimes, he feels the value of human life will be boosted and murder rates will consequently plummet (475-479). Koch makes a valiant effort to express these views, yet research contradicts his claims and a real look at his idea of justice must be considered in order to create a fair nation for all.

Capital punishment is a difficult subject for a lot of people because many question whether or not it is ethical to kill a convicted criminal. In order to critically analyze whether or not it is ethical, I will look at the issue using a utilitarianism approach because in order to get a good grasp of this topic we need to look at how the decision will impact us in the future. The utilitarianism approach will help us to examine this issue and see what some of the consequences are with this topic of capital punishment. For years, capital punishment has been used against criminals and continues to be used today, but lately this type of punishment has come into question because of the ethical question.

The death penalty has been a huge part of many political debates for the past few decades. There are two sides, those for and those against its continued use and both have logical arguments. My research question is if it is ethical and or beneficial for the U.S. government to continue using the death penalty? To gain the attention of my audience, I am going to share two stories that my sources have on those with experience in the debate. The Forbes article, “Considering The Death Penalty: Your Tax Dollars At Work,” is an anti-death penalty piece explaining how an innocent man was on death row and his opinion on whether or not it should be used. He said in the piece that living out a life sentence without parole is worse than being executed.

¨The taking of even one life is a momentous event.¨ (Bernardin, The Consistent Ethic of Life). The consistent ethic of life is founded on the belief that all life is sacred and worth protecting, while the reasons for capital punishment may seem similar-- retaliation for a life lost-- the death penalty directly goes against everything the consistent ethic of life teaches. As proven through these presentations, capital punishment cases are often inaccurate and biased, while the act of the Death Penalty has proven to be painful with many examples of botched executions. Not only is killing immoral, but how can we go through with these executions when evidence has shown the death penalty can be inefficient and some

Capital punishment is a sentence that is given to someone that has committed a capital crime. This is a subject of great debate; some people agree and some do not. There are times when a crime is so heinous that the majority would seek capital punishment. Susan Gissendaner received this sentence for plotting to kill her husband, although her boyfriend actually killed her husband. Since being in prison, Susan has undergone a conversion and transformation. She is now a model prisoner. Due to Susan’s transformation, they are trying to have her sentence changed. Should Susan’s sentence be commuted to life in prison is the question being asked? This paper will answer the question by providing a moral judgment viewed by two non-consequentialist theories. The strengths and weaknesses of these positions will be assessed. Whether I agree or disagree will be answered and explained.

Capital punishment raises the very difficult question whether or not it is ethical to kill a convicted criminal. People who oppose the death penalty often argue mistaken identity and wrongful conviction. They argue that long-term imprisonment is the better course of action, because it allows for the possibility that if a mistake was made in the conviction of a suspect, they would be able to correct it without ending the life of an innocent person. They also state that the threat of the death penalty is not a deterrent and people will commit crimes regardless, as often, criminal behavior is committed with the sense that they will not get caught. People who support the death penalty often state that the death penalty is a deterrent, far more than just prison time. They also argue that the death penalty could actually save lives because when a death penalty is carried out, there could be fewer crimes committed in the future.

Capital Punishment is defined as the “legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime”. This is also known as the Death Penalty. The death penalty has been an ongoing debate in the United States since as early as the colonial period. Most people including myself are for the death penalty for many reasons. The death penalty provides closure for victims; it is a warning to other criminals because it acts as a deterrent. I believe criminals should face consequences for their actions (an eye for an eye). I will later compare and contrast two great philosophers known as Jeffery Reiman and van der Haag. These two philosophers have two opposing theories regarding Capital Punishment.

Cameron Todd Willingham was executed by lethal injection on February 17th, 2004 in Huntsville, Texas. He was convicted of murdering his three children by arson in 1991. Thirteen years later, he was sentenced to death and executed. In 2011, he was found virtuous. Forensics experts proved his innocence assuring that the fire was accidental. Willingham was killed for a crime he didn’t commit. Situations like this are one of many reasons why the death penalty is absurd. The death penalty is an unethical and impractical process that has to be diminished in the United States because life in prison without parole is reassuring enough, Capital punishment is expensive and time consuming, and less people are in favor of the death penalty. Families of

Philosophy branch which streamlines, protects and guides the concepts of being correct or incorrect is referred as Ethics. People learn this concept from their parents who got it from their parents and it is a chain. However philosophers claim that it is people’s belief which decide ethics along with human intuition. An individual at singular level conscientiously decides what is right and wrong and define a limit of pushing ethical behaviour and morality in being. Moral acceptability of any action can be judged from the points if action is understood by an individual well, the consequences of that action on public, fair treatment of action with all people respectfully and the way action is being performed, the motivation of people for it.

Capital Punishment was adopted by America when the state of Virginia carried out the colonies’ first execution in 1608 (“History of the Death Penalty”). Since then, usage of the death penalty has been instituted by 36 states, making execution the ultimate form of punishment. Although in theory the death penalty seems like a viable method of punishment, in practice, it has serious flaws that damage the integrity of the state. Capital Punishment has been falsely idolized as a deterrent, applied unfairly for generations, used as a vehicle for revenge, and made people blind to the fact that life in prison without parole is an equally acceptable form of punishment. The death penalty is an

Two major claims: death penalty serves as a deterrent and death penalty is morally justified because murderers can’t live and you have a right to kill them.

Since the foundation of our nation the Death Penalty has been a way to punish prisoners that have committed heinous crimes, however since the turn of the 20th century the practice of Capital Punishment has been questioned on its usage in America and the world as a whole. The Death Penalty is used in America to punish criminals who have committed murders, or taken the life of an innocent person, and while the death penalty seems like it is doing justice to those who have killed others it is actually being used improperly in most situations, while also hindering our economy and is a means of ending more lives than necessary. The Death Penalty can be a valid source of punishment for criminals in the US however due to the misuse of this power by the government it is a huge detriment to our nation and the people that inhabit it. Because of the fact that Capital Punishment is used unfairly, and ineffectively in our nation it is an obsolete form of punishment and should have no place in the United States justice department.

In a society of numerous irregularities it is necessary of a rule of law when serious offenses are committed upon people. Those serious offenses are of different magnitude, but the ones that do violate fundamental and crucial social codes and laws are those who in some cultures should be paid with the ultimate price, life. And because of very bitter situation, many people find themselves in either supporting or opposing such action. When arguing about the issue of death penalty, we touch a very sensitive issue for the decision-makers in a country, since it is an irrevocable action taken for the preservation of social order. This problem has been considered an issue for decades. People have tried to argue about it from the aspects of

“Justice is the first virtue of social institutions.”- John Bordley Rawls. Before any government can establish a border, before any government can form an unrelated policy, before any government can fully organize and progress, there must be an understanding among people that no matter your status you will be punished for transgressions against your fellow citizens. Most criminal actions can acquitted for by severing your time in incarceration or repaying the wronged party, however, there are some evil and malicious acts that no person can ever truly atone for: murder, rape, molestation, and treason. No, in situations such as these there is only one justifiable course of action, the Death Penalty.

At first thought it may seem that capital punishment is the right thing to do. But what most people don’t realize is that it is injustice and wrong. Capital punishment has been around since the middle ages and is used today to kill people who commit crimes it varies from state to state but one of the main crimes to receive the death penalty is murder. Also the U.S.A. has used capital punishment from it’s beginning it started with hanging and it’s changed over the years there have been many different types such as electric chair, hanging, gas chamber, firing squad and lethal injection the person who is going to be executed gets a option on which of five he would prefer most states only provide two or three. Lethal injection is the most