11 PHI - Death Penalty

Deterrence argument

The death penalty is a more effective deterent than life in prison

objection: there is no statistical evidence to back this up

pojman1: How do you measure how many people did not commit murder because of the death penalty

pojman2: Given how rarely the death penalty is used how do we know that criminals fear it

Retribution argument

The death penalty is permissible because such convicts deserve it

Follows the eye for an eye (theory of desert) where the crime and punishment should be proportional

the main objection is that the death penalty violates the moral status, rights, dignity of the murderer.

still some might argue that the murder gave up their moral status when they committed murder

The death penalty is still widely accepted in the US and does not violate the 8th amendment

Closure argument

The family of the victim deserves to see closure when the murderer is executed

Bedau - innocent victims arg

The death penalty risks wrongly sentencing someone to the death penalty and this is too high of a price to pay.

Bedau - unfair implementation argument

The death penalty tends to unfairly impact minorties and the poor so we should do away with the death penalty

main objection: are you ready to get rid of the entire justice system

Bedau: The executed were usually the vicims of prejudce and losers in an arbitatry lottery. This system does not enhance respect for human life.

Easy way out argument

Death penalty is too easy for some criminals. We should make criminals suffer for years in prison instead of them taking the easy way out.

Vagueness argument

How do we decide which homicides deserve the death penalty?