Capital Punishment

• Capital punishment


  The death penalty
• For much of the UK's history, capital punishment was an accepted part of the crime and punishment system
• Capital punishment was suspended

  1965
• Capital punishment was abolished


  1970
• There have been several attempts since to restore capital punishment for certain types of murder, but they have always been rejected, partly for fear of an innocent person being executed
• Not having the death penalty is one condition of being a member of the EU
• Aquinas' view on capital punishment

  Regarded it as legitimate if carried out by the state, but it would become revenge if left to individuals to perform it
• Aquinas' justification for capital punishment


  • Supports the primary precept of an ordered society
  • Upholds the cardinal virtue of justice, as it fulfils the aim of retribution
• The Catholic Church has not totally renounced Aquinas' position, though Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis have expressed strong opinions against it and Catholic teaching generally opposes it
• CCC 2267: 'the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity are very rare, if not practically non-existent'
• Situationism's view on capital punishment

  There is no set view, it depends on what would affirm love in each situation, taking into account the concerns of all those involved
• Justice could clash with situationism's concern for the greatest love for the greatest number


  The latter might best be served by executing someone known to be innocent to prevent a breakdown in public order
• Aristotle's view on capital punishment

  The virtue of justice is most obviously applicable, as it is altruistic and the execution of murderers might be justified on the grounds that they pose a threat to the security of society
• Aristotle: 'All virtue is summed up in dealing justly'
• Aristotle's understanding of justice

  Concerned with putting things right when loss had occurred as a result of unfair dealing or when injury occurred in a fight, including the harm done by murder to victims and their families and friends
• Aristotle might have viewed the death penalty as the most appropriate way of restoring the balance required by justice, especially for murders committed callously and motivated by vices such as greed