Death Penalty

             In my analysis of A Case Against The Death Penalty by Hugo Adam Bedeau, the author discussed his views on the ethics of capital punishment. He identified eight arguments in his defense against this topic. The author's most compelling arguments were in deterrence, unfairness, inevitability of error and barbarity. I will oppose the author arguments against the death penalty. Specifically, I will argue that (1) justice must be served independent of the debates listed or argued and (2) that our society does not have a "place" for those individuals who circumvent the laws of civilized nations.
             In the summary and critique of Bedau's view, I will argue that his viewpoint on the topic of death penalty is more hypothetically based on a utopian idea of humankind. I will state the opposing view that the death penalty is a matter of justice and equality for our society. I will place my focus purely on the cited examples and that the author may have a very compelling insight for a case against the death penalty but I believe that the loss of innocent lives through malicious and violent or evil acts MUST be respected by bringing the charged felon closer to his maker for final judgment.
             The author's most compelling arguments are based on four issues that stir the debate between the pros and cons on the topic of capital punishment and the death penalty. One of the most often cited arguments is that of deterrence. The major purpose of criminal punishment is to deter future criminal conduct. The deterrence theory suggests that a rational person will avoid criminal behavior if the severity of the punishment outweighs the benefits of the illegal conduct. It is believed that fear of death deters people from committing crimes. Most criminals would think twice before committing murder if they knew their own lives was at stake. That if attached to certain crimes, the penalty of death exerts a positive moral influence by pl...

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Death Penalty. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 03:48, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/39824.html