capital punishment

• Capital punishment


  • Going against human rights which are supposed to apply to all people no matter what they have done
  • A painful and degrading punishment
• Capital punishment


  • Doesn't allow reform which is the main aim of punishment in civilized society
• When a person is executed

  • Their family and loved ones who have committed no crime are the ones who suffer most
  • You can't bring victims back through execution
• Capital punishment


  Motivated by revenge which only increases pain and suffering to everyone
• We can imprison offenders and protect society without executing them, so there is no need for capital punishment
• We know there have been miscarriages of justice in the past
• The government takes life through capital punishment

  It sends a mixed message that taking life is not acceptable
• Christian view on capital punishment

  • Love for your enemies implies that you should show love even to those who commit terrible crimes
  • Only God gives life so he should decide if it is taken away
  • The New Testament teachings replace older teachings like 'an eye for an eye'
  • Jesus intervenes and stops a woman from being stoned to death, showing forgiveness
  • The power to make the decision to crucify Jesus was given to Pilate by God
• Christian arguments for capital punishment

  • Use of quotes from the Old Testament ― 'eye for eye, tooth for tooth' ― its natural justice, they have taken a life and as a result their life should be taken
  • God gave the law not to kill, by executing those who do not obey this law we are valuing human life
• Utilitarianism


  • Arguments in favour of the death penalty: It is a deterrent and prevents suffering
  • It is an irrevocable punishment that will only be carried out where there is full evidence of guilt
  • It can result in less suffering overall than if the offender was kept in prison until their death
• Utilitarianism

  • Arguments against the death penalty: It doesn't work as a deterrent, therefore it doesn't result in the greatest happiness
  • Capital punishment brings about more suffering than happiness to society, it causes suffering to those it is used on as well as to their families
  • Forgiveness results in the greatest happiness for the victim's family and society, so the criminal should be forgiven
  • A society which has retribution runs the risk that every member of society could potentially be wrongly accused, convicted and executed
  • If a criminal had no control over their actions then the individual is not responsible and therefore should not be punished
• Humanism


  • It values the lives of all people, believes in equality and human rights no matter what a person has done
  • The death penalty goes against human rights articles 1, 3, 5 - the right to life, to dignity, and not to be tortured
  • Reform should be the main purpose of punishment so the death penalty does not work
  • The government should protect all of its people, it should not be able to inflict cruelty and take their lives
  • Execution is irreversible