The Death Penalty Preserves Human Dignity

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America’s million dollar question is should capital punishment be allowed? Americans have been blindsided with decisions about the death penalty; in the past many have agreed with the punishment due to lack of knowledge on the issue. Today, information on capital punishment is everywhere. I agreed with most of America on the issue; it should be allowed because of its many beneficial reasons. I believe in “just desert,” that is criminals should receive the same punishment that they used against their victims. If you murder someone intentionally you should receive the death penalty. Finally, society feels relief as the capital punishment protects their own human dignity that are at risk if the accused remains alive; society dignity fails if they don’t punish the accused for they become participators of the crime. Therefore, the occurrence of anarchy is avoided with this punishment as it will serve as deterrence as well. Some philosophers such as Kant and Pojman have agreed with my view while others like Marshall and Bedau have challenged it.

Kant conditionally agreed with the death penalty. He created a conception of human dignity that gave people this special value. He believed that human dignity is a person’s worth and must be respected. Hence, the death penalty is approved because respecting human dignity would require capital punishment for a murderer. Human dignity is essential and special because everyone attains it. Human dignity is based on a special kind of worth that does not vary and is a value that everyone attains equally (this equality serves as the basis for equal human rights). Human dignity is not to be confused with the usefulness of a person, their talents, values, or luck because these are all extrinsic attri...

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...has become increasing infamous in certain cases because life in prison was not enough of a punishment for certain offenders. Life in prison for a murder does not meet the principal of equality or the strict equality concept; a horrible life does not equal to a non-existing life.

References:

• Bedau, H. A. (2004). Killing as Punishment:Reflections on the Death Penalty in America. York, Pennsylvania. Maple Press. Northeastern University Press. Print

• Ezorsky, G. (1972). Philosophical Perspectives on Punishment. Justice and Punishment. Albany, New York. State University of New York. Print.

• Marshall, T. The Death Penalty is a Denial of Human Dignity. Retrieved from: http://eres.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/eres/download.aspx?doc21.ID=155828.1

• Pojman, L.P. For the Death Penalty. Retrieved from: http://eres.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/eres/download.aspx?docID=21929&shor

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