One of the most debated ethical issues throughout the entire history of man, has been capital punishment (death penalty). Is it necessary, and more importantly, is it moral to put someone to death for a crime which they have committed? This questions has been raised and debated in every country and at every period of time, as far back as known history will allow us to observe. This paper will present and discuss the dilemma of capital punishment on ethical grounds and present arguments both for and against capital punishment. This paper will also look at the history and evolution of capital punishment, as well as attempt to gauge what will become of the practice in the foreseeable future. In order to get a better understand and insight
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This led to reform of capital punishment in the 1700s. In the 1800s most laws that allowed for capital punishment were abandoned, not only in Britain, but across most of Europe and the rest of the civilized world. Today, only a small number of developed countries remain to implement the practice of capital punishment. The ethical dilemmas that are faced when discussing capital punishment are many; What crime merits the punishment of death?; Is there such a crime?; How is the execution to be carried out?; How much pain should the prisoner be allowed to endure?; What if the prisoner was wrongfully accused?; In the face of all these issues, the main dilemma remains to be not whether the person who has committed the crime deserve to die, but rather, does the state have the right (or deserve) to execute a person who has been found …show more content…
It is moral to uphold capital punishment as reverence for life itself. Indeed, a fact which suggests that, if anything, it may be the abolition of capital punishment which threatens to cheapen life. It is necessary to uphold justice and righteousness in the face of heinous evil, as life itself is sacred. ( Budziszewski, 2002) 2. Capital punishment is morally justified as the deterrent effect is significant, demonstrating that those who inflict grotesque crimes against others will be met with just retribution (typically the view of
This led to reform of capital punishment in the 1700s. In the 1800s most laws that allowed for capital punishment were abandoned, not only in Britain, but across most of Europe and the rest of the civilized world. Today, only a small number of developed countries remain to implement the practice of capital punishment. The ethical dilemmas that are faced when discussing capital punishment are many; What crime merits the punishment of death?; Is there such a crime?; How is the execution to be carried out?; How much pain should the prisoner be allowed to endure?; What if the prisoner was wrongfully accused?; In the face of all these issues, the main dilemma remains to be not whether the person who has committed the crime deserve to die, but rather, does the state have the right (or deserve) to execute a person who has been found …show more content…
It is moral to uphold capital punishment as reverence for life itself. Indeed, a fact which suggests that, if anything, it may be the abolition of capital punishment which threatens to cheapen life. It is necessary to uphold justice and righteousness in the face of heinous evil, as life itself is sacred. ( Budziszewski, 2002) 2. Capital punishment is morally justified as the deterrent effect is significant, demonstrating that those who inflict grotesque crimes against others will be met with just retribution (typically the view of