Question

Your task is to write a paragraph (maximum length of one page double spaced) that argues your position on the death penalty. In your argument, you must draw upon ethical theories, concepts, and reasoning to support your position.

• State whether or not the death penalty should be abolished and why.
• You must apply at least one ethical theory to support your position.
• You must explain what effects implementing your position regarding the death penalty would have on society.

Answer 1

The death penalty is the most controversial form of punishment. Opponents of the death penalty argue that it is inhumane to take the life of someone, hence it should be abolished., whereas people who supports death penalty says that this form of punishment is necessary for most of dreadful offenders in society. I personally feel that death penalty should be there to punish the dreadful criminals. Let's discuss an ethical theory in this context.

The ethical theory which we can use in this context is utilitarian theory because this form of punishment has both positive and negative consequences.

One of the major benefits of death penalty is that it plays a significant role in discouraging people to commit a crime. The death penalty is the most severe form of punishment and people will get scared to engage themselves in various forms of criminal activities.

According to utilitarian, death punishment is ethical because it discourages people to engage in criminal activities and it provides overall happiness and peace to the society. Society will be a safe place for all living beings because there are no criminals.

Another benefit of death penalty is that it completely changes the mind of a person who is planning to engage himself in heinous activities. Other forms of punishment only restricts some of the freedoms of the criminal but death penalty finishes one's life. According to utilitarian, death penalty is an appropriate form of punishment because it completely protects the society from future offences from a prisoner.

The death penalty provides a sense of justice to the family members affected by the crime committed by the convicted person. Although there is no form of compensation for the victims or their families, death penalty assures them that there will be no such crime expected from that convicted person. No other family will be affected by the convicted person in future. There are no more punishments like death penalty for dreadful criminals, this form of punishment will punish the most dreadful criminals and at the same will be a warning for other criminals not to involve in criminal activities.

Implications:

One of the serious implications of death penalty is that it costs more than other forms of punishment. The taxpayers have to pay the amount associated with implementation of death penalty. In past, death penalty was a cheaper method of punishment compared to other alternatives but now it is more costly.

This form of punishment takes time, the prosecutor and defender need to be thorough about their decisions by providing strong witnesses. Once the judgement is final, the offender can make many appeals increasing the time period of case for many years. This increases the cost associated with safeguarding the convicts.

According to utilitarian, the heavy financial burden is a negative implication for the society. Another serious implication of the death penalty is that it might punish an innocent person, although such type of cases are rare but it might happen.

The death penalty is final and once the decision has been finalized, there is no other alternatives for the innocent person to come out from the wrongful conviction. So the fear of wrongful conviction is the most serious issue in death punishment.
According to utilitarian, the killing of an innocent person by a wrong judgement is a great loss to his family members as well as to the society.

So, from the ethical point of view, death penalty is right as it includes deterrence and the preservation of law and order. The benefits of death penalty outweigh the implications.