PHIL 1550 Study Guide - Consequentialism, Deontological Ethics
Document Summary
In favor of the death penalty: retribution, 3 propositions: Only the guilty deserve to be punished. The guilty deserve to be punished in proportion to severity of their crime (supported by jefferson: difference between retribution and vengeance. What people fear more will have greater deterrent effect on them. People fear death more than they do any other humane punishment. Criminals who committed offense punishable by imprisonment don"t kill their captors, even though they would have become free because that would carry death sentence. Criminals who committed certain offenses don"t carry deadly weapon because can deal with imprisonment but not death penalty. Bet against dp is a bet against the victim and for the murderer. Bet for dp is bet against the murderer and for the victim (innocent) Objections to the death penalty: objection 1: morally unacceptable thirst for revenge, retributivism not same as revenge. Revenge is personal response to perp for injury, retribution is impartial and impersonal response to offender.
