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Is The Death Penalty Morally Wrong?

It attempts to answer the question of what act will produce the greatest amount of good or happiness for the greatest amount of people. An act is considered morally justified when it produces a greater amount of happiness than unhappiness. It is easy to see how this system could be used to justify the morality of using the death penalty as a deterrent to crime. Many people believe that the death penalty acts as a deterrent to others to commit similar crimes. The logic here is that if one is faced with the prospect of death, he or she will reconsider committing a heinous crime such as rape or murder. Thus, the relatively small amount of unhappiness caused by the death of one criminal is far outweighed by the great unhappiness that is prevented by deterring many other criminal acts. This same method of hedonistic calculus might be used to show how the level of happiness gained in the distribution of retributive punishment outweighs the amount of unhappiness produced in its application. There are a couple of problems with this logic. The first is a practical matter. It can not actually be shown as fact that the death penalty acts as a deterrent. It seems like common sense that it would deter crime. A murderer, however, is not typically guided by good sense. Furthermore, there are many recent studies and statistics that show that crime actually increases in areas where the death penalty is used as punishment. The second problem with a utilitarian justification of the death penalty touches on a fundamental problem with the utilitarian system itself. The utilitarian's concern with the consequences of an action rather than with the action itself would allow for grave injustices in the application of punishment. If punishment is used as a deterrent in order to maximize happiness, it would not matter if the person being punished was actually guilty. Framing an innocent person and punishing him or her would have the same effect of frightening others out of committing the same crime.


Essays Related to Is The Death Penalty Morally Wrong?

1. America and the Death Penalty

Currently, there have been over 1,000 deaths due to the death penalty since 1976 (Death Penalty Information Center). ... This information shows that there have been many wrongly accused victims of the death penalty. ... One of the reasons are because it is against people's religions or they believe that it is morally incorrect. Catholics believe that the death penalty is not the right thing to do and that it is morally incorrect. ... According to Patricia Smith, Lockett, a man who was convicted of shooting a 19 year old woman and burying her alive, had been sentenced to death by lethal in...

  • Word Count: 1504
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Against the Death Penalty

Today, there is a big controversy over the death penalty, whether it is morally right or wrong. ... And lastly, innocent people may be wrongly condemned. ... Statistics from the Death Penalty Information Center (1997) show that the death penalty does not really deter crime. When comparisons are made between states with the death penalty and states without it, the majority of the death penalty states show murder rates higher than non-death penalty states. ... In 1996, death penalty states averaged a rate of 7.1 criminal homicides per 100,000, while non-death penalty states averaged a rate of ...

  • Word Count: 1279
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Death Penalty - A Risk Not Worth Taking

For example, some executions have gone wrong and it has taken a long time for death to occur after the lethal injection. ... Another reason to oppose the death penalty is that there is always the chance that the defendant is wrongly convicted and put to death. ... While supporters of the death penalty claim that there is no risk of wrongful execution, in fact, there have been people who have been wrongly convicted and killed. ... If the death penalty does not deter crime, why should there have a death penalty? ... Given that the criminal justice system can be flawed, that a person could be wro...

  • Word Count: 935
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography

4. ABOLISING DEATH PENALTY

The Death Penalty I. ... "The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. ... These 23 people were wrongly tried, convicted, and executed. ... The death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment. ... The death penalty is final, irrevocable. ...

  • Word Count: 914
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Death Penalty

There are many things that I don't agree with in today's society but, out of all the wrong doings that take place, murder including the death penalty is wrong. ... Is it morally right to end a person's life? ... It is morally wrong for someone to kill someone. Then the state is committing a morally wrongful act. ... But does the death penalty really deter crime? ...

  • Word Count: 1234
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Death Penalty

There are many things that I don't agree with in today's society but, out of all the wrong doings that take place, murder including the death penalty is wrong. ... Is it morally right to end a person's life? ... It is morally wrong for someone to kill someone. Then the state is committing a morally wrongful act. ... But does the death penalty really deter crime? ...

  • Word Count: 1320
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Death Penalty

However, the death penalty is the most questionable punishment. Is it morally right? ... The death penalty is not an effective way to determine crime. I myself think that Death penalty is wrong. ... In a matter of life and death, the judges are getting it wrong more than 2 out of every 3 times. ...

  • Word Count: 372
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Death Penalty

The death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment. ... According to Amnesty International's website against the death penalty the latest information shows that: 55 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes, 15 countries have abolished the death penalty for all but exceptional crimes such as the wartime crimes, 27 countries can be considered abolitionists because they maintain the death penalty in law but have not carried out any executions for the past 10 years. A total of 97 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. Although 97 other countries mainta...

  • Word Count: 467
  • Approx Pages: 2

9. Death Penalty

This is same principle as death penalty but just at a lower level. ... The inhumanity of the death penalty is one of the main reasons I oppose it. ... However those who are pro-death penalty believe they should be put to death because of their actions. ... In conclusion I believe the death penalty not morally correct and inhumane, and those states who enforce the death penalty should reconsider their ways, and think of the integrity of this nation and the way we run it. There are many reason to be against the death penalty and I believe I stated the most important one, however there are al...

  • Word Count: 765
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

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