Ethical discussion –Capital punishment
According to the laws of every country and region, punishment is compulsory to all law breakers. This debate can go on for years with those supporting the sentence stating that a normal human being is known to fear death, and thus, the inclusion of capital punishment for capital crimes such as rape and murder is likely to deter criminals from committing crimes out of fear of being executed. Thus, this action brings happiness to a large number of people. As the Utilitarianism theory states, the morality of an action in this case sentencing of the death penalty is determined by the adherence to the greatest happiness principle which guides individuals to cause the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people (Glaser). They go on to say that the cost of the death penalty is cheaper compared to the cost of putting a criminal in a prison for in a life improvement. Thus, the government saves a lot.
On the other camp, lawmakers argue that the poor bear the pain of capital punishment considering that they have no enough income to hire the best defense to defend them from getting the death penalty. Moreover, capital punishment heightens racial segregations especially in America, considering that African American makes just 13% of the population but bears 50% of the total death penalties (Glaser).
Student 1
I fully agree with student one that the government and the legal system have enough power and integrity to prevent unnecessary deaths that may result from the capital punishment sentenced to a criminal.
Student 2
As per the second student, it is difficult to claim that the evidence is 100% and at times the wrong people may be executed. However, the legal systems should ensure that the evidence provided in the court is beyond a reasonable doubt before issuing a death sentence.
Works Cited
Glaser, Jack, Karin D. Martin, and Kimberly B. Kahn. “”Possibility of death sentence has divergent effect on verdicts for Black and White defendants.” .” Law and human behavior 39.6 (2015): 539.
