The issue of capital punishment has in the last decades attracted a heated controversy, due to its extensive use and the severity with which it has been inflicted, especially on murderers. Death penalty has become the ultimate punishment for criminals, due to the reason that no punishment for such people is harsher than death itself. Currently, more than fifty countries across the globe practice the death penalty, with the United States included (Jane & Sidney, 2006). Capital punishment has become the preferred form of punishment for persons who commit first-degree murder, with the hope that such a serious sentence will reduce the number of murderers. However, although some people fully support the death sentence penalty, others are completely
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In several occasions, the philosopher was quoted to be in support of death penalty. In one of the instances, Kant observed that even if a civil society were to be dissolved by the consent of all its members, the last murderer remaining behind bars would first have to be executed. According to him, this would be a way of subjecting the murderer to what he deserves. In his metaphysics of morals, Kant also argues that neither a society nor a state can exist without laws. In the absence of laws, the society cannot exist. As such, the enforcement of laws contribute a great deal in achieving an organized society where people can interact peacefully. According to Kant, any individual who does not abide by set laws ceases to be a member of the society and hence deserves to be punished. Kant supports capital punishment by claiming that “whoever has committed murder, must die” (Kant, 1996). This is simply because regardless of how difficult life may seem, it is still considered better than death. Kant further points out that “However many they may be who have committed murder, or have even commanded it, or acted as art and part of it, they all ought to suffer death. (Kant, 1996). Kant was of the strong believe that any society which does not sentence a murderer to death is considered to be in support of the crime.It is worth noting that Aristotle supports this argument by claiming that a murderer is worse than a beast andmoreharmful, hence deserves to
In several occasions, the philosopher was quoted to be in support of death penalty. In one of the instances, Kant observed that even if a civil society were to be dissolved by the consent of all its members, the last murderer remaining behind bars would first have to be executed. According to him, this would be a way of subjecting the murderer to what he deserves. In his metaphysics of morals, Kant also argues that neither a society nor a state can exist without laws. In the absence of laws, the society cannot exist. As such, the enforcement of laws contribute a great deal in achieving an organized society where people can interact peacefully. According to Kant, any individual who does not abide by set laws ceases to be a member of the society and hence deserves to be punished. Kant supports capital punishment by claiming that “whoever has committed murder, must die” (Kant, 1996). This is simply because regardless of how difficult life may seem, it is still considered better than death. Kant further points out that “However many they may be who have committed murder, or have even commanded it, or acted as art and part of it, they all ought to suffer death. (Kant, 1996). Kant was of the strong believe that any society which does not sentence a murderer to death is considered to be in support of the crime.It is worth noting that Aristotle supports this argument by claiming that a murderer is worse than a beast andmoreharmful, hence deserves to