Jeffrey Reiman's Arguments Against Capital Punishment
The topic of capital punishment presents a test of values. The arguments in support of and opposition to the death penalty are complex. In the end, this is a question of an individual’s values and morals. The topic requires careful thought to reach a reasoned position. Both sides of the argument are defensible. Support for capital punishment requires valuing retribution over rehabilitation. Those who favor capital punishment value highly the closure it provides to the families of the victims, and they believe that it deters would be murderers from killing. Retribution, closure and deterrence are the main reasons in favor of the death penalty. Opponents of capital punishment generally believe that it is hypocritical and immoral for the state …show more content…
Reiman opposes capital punishment for several reasons. Reiman rejects the retribution rationale because retribution dehumanizes the person doing the punishing. As an alternative, Reiman advocates for humane punishment that is equal in severity, and that does not reduce deterrence. He stresses the importance of equal severity because a lack of equality will send the wrong message to society. Reiman believes strongly that: “[t]he available research by no means clearly indicates that the death penalty reduces the incidence of homicide more than life imprisonment does.” He supports this position for four reasons. First, he says that someone who is worried about punishment is just as likely to be deterred by prison as by execution. Second, he points out that more criminals are killed by policeman while committing the crime than being executed, so a smaller chance of delayed death does not deter the criminal. Third, Reiman contends that abolishing the death penalty demonstrates a greater respect for life, and this will deter people from murdering. Finally, he brings van den Haag’s argument that execution deters more murderers than a life sentence. His response is that if this is true, it must also be true that more people fear death by torture than execution so we should implement death by torture to save more lives. Reiman believes this is wrong. Reiman’s solution is that life in prison without a chance for parole would be an equal alternative to capital
Affirms Life By Edward Koch Summary
568 Words | 3 PagesIn Edward Koch’s essay he argues that the death penalty can prevent murders and affirm life. Koch begins his counter argument by addressing the issue of the death penalty being barbaric; he argues that while it may not be the most pleasant way to lower the murder rate it is necessary in order to achieve that goal. Since no other major democracy has a murder rate as high as the United States, the death penalty is necessary for lowering it and eliminating the issue of multiple murders. There have been many cases of murders committing the crime again, so if capital punishment was enacted murderers would never get the chance to kill again. When capital punishment is used it highlights the value of human life because it has such a strict punishment,
Death Penalty: Furman Vs. Georgia Case
193 Words | 1 PagesThose who support capital punishment believe that some crimes are so horrible they deserve an equal punishment. It is also believed by these people that the death penalty deters criminals from such crimes. Those who do not support capital punishment believe that humans should not take a life no matter what, and they say that there is evidence that some people have been wrongly executed. In Furman vs. Georgia the Supreme Court changed the way that criminals were tried in court and stopped all executions until better laws were made. Executions were started again in 1980, and during the 1990s the execution rate began to rise.
Reiman's Arguments Against Common Sense
248 Words | 1 PagesReiman begins his essay be explaining and describing the reasons in which he is against the common sense idea. The basis behind this theory is that common sense would tell someone that if something cost higher than something else, then fewer people will choose the item that cost more. Reiman offers three arguments in which he disagrees that the common sense idea will deter crime. The first one being that just because a person fears one penalty more than another, does not mean that this will deter the criminal behavior. It was stated that there is an equal likelihood of crime being deterred for the death penalty than there is for life behind bars.
Analysis Of Capital Punishment In Truman Capote's In Cold Blood
1512 Words | 7 PagesBeing on death row often prolongs the pain for the inmate. They spend their time in prison fearing the inevitable which for them is death. Today, we live in a society that is very divided on this issue. There are many in support of the death penalty, suggesting that it acts as a positive deterrent against future crime. There are also many
More Innocents Die When We Don T Have Capital Punishment By Dennis Prager
1161 Words | 5 PagesHe suggests that other social policies also lead to the death of innocent individuals, but they are not banned. The author presents deductive arguments to support his position, including the idea that murderers who are not executed have the potential to harm more innocent people. He believes that opponents of capital punishment should acknowledge their responsibility for innocent lives lost due to murderers who were not executed. Prager concludes that capital punishment is necessary to protect innocent lives. Opponents should confront their responsibility for every innocent already murdered and yet to be murdered by murderers who should have been
The Rescue Defence Of Capital Punishment By Steve Aspenson
744 Words | 3 PagesCapital punishment has long been a heavily debated issue. In his article, “The Rescue Defence of Capital Punishment,” author Steve Aspenson make a moral argument in favor of capital punishment on the grounds that that is the only way to bring about justice and “rescue” murder victims. Aspenson argues as follows: 1. We have a general, prima facie duty to rescue victims from increasing harm. 2.
Does The Death Penalty Violate The 8th Amendment
405 Words | 2 PagesThe University of Texas-Pan American Essay #2 Anna Salkinder LSPI July 27, 2015 The death penalty has been a major topic of debate in the United States as well as various parts of the world for numerous years. At this time, there are thirty-one states in which the death penalty is legal. Nineteen states have completely abolished it (“States with and without The Death Penalty”). Since its initial development back in the 1600’s, the death penalty has taken a different course in the way it is utilized. In its early days, the death penalty was greatly used and implemented for several offenses.
The Eighth Amendment
334 Words | 2 PagesI believe that death penalty is considered to be a cruel and unusual punishment. In my opinion, a life is priceless and shouldn 't be taken away without their willingness. All men are created equal- no man was made better than the other and therefore should not bring death on their life. On the other hand, I think that there are more reasons why people would support the death penalty.
The Pros And Cons Of Capital Punishment
873 Words | 4 PagesCapital punishment, or the death penalty, is a legal process in which a person is put to death as a punishment for a crime by the government of a nation. The United States is in the minority group of nations that uses the death penalty. There are thirty-three states that allow capital punishment and seventeen states that abolished it (Death Penalty Information Center). The morality of the death penalty has been debated for many years. Some people want capital punishment to be abolished due to how it can cost a lot more than life imprisonment without parole, how they think it is immoral to kill, and how innocent people can be put to death.
FBI Uniform Crime Report
1016 Words | 5 PagesIf the cold-blooded killing of thousands does not lower premeditated murder, there is really no point (because let 's face it, the saying “eye for an eye” is childish and socially unacceptable). This same conclusion was agreed upon in a recent poll by almost 90% of the world’s criminological societies (Facts About the Death Penalty). However in all honesty, the argument against the death penalty doesn’t just stop at its redundancy, but also its
Argumentative Essay: Race And The Death Penalty
659 Words | 3 PagesIn conclusion the idea that the death penalty should be abolished can be supported by many reasons that include extensive evidence. With the death penalty still established we are putting innocent people's lives at risk, spending millions, and continue with racial segregation. The idea that someone's opinion in court can decide the fate of another person is
The Death Penalty In Stephen Nathanson's An Eye For An Eye?
901 Words | 4 PagesDeath Penalty is a very ominous punishment to discuss. It is probably the most controversial and feared form of punishment in the United States. Many are unaware, but 31 of the 52 states have the Death penalty passes as an acceptable punishment. In the following essay, I will agree and support Stephen Nathanson's statement that "Equality retributivism cannot justify the death penalty. " In the reading, "An Eye for an Eye?", Nathanson gives objections to why equality retributivism is morally acceptable for the death penalty to be legal.
Annotated Bibliography On Death Penalty
1145 Words | 5 PagesAnnotated Bibliography Draft Student name : Haider Zafaryab Student number: 2360526 Thesis Statement : Capital Punishment is a very controversial topic around the globe. I believe that it does more harm than good and breeds violence in society. Source 1: Radelet, M. L., & Akers, R. L. (1996).
Persuasive Speech: Why The Death Penalty Must End
767 Words | 4 PagesWhy death penalty must end ‘’An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind,’’ said Mahatma Gandhi. The execution of someone who has possibly done a crime is an inhuman act. Death penalty is hypocritical and flawed. If killing is wrong, why do we kill when a criminal has done the crime of killing someone? In this essay, I will write why death penalty should end by writing about the violation of human rights, execution of innocent people, the fact that it does not deter crime and money.
Essay On Harsh Punishment
1048 Words | 5 PagesIn the case of the death penalty, it has the added bonus in guaranteeing that the person would not offend again. Supporters of harsh punishments argue that the would-be criminal would consider the costs versus the benefits of committing a crime. If the costs outweigh the benefits, then it is assumed that he would stop what he is doing, effectively ‘deterred’. Furthermore, the usage of harsh punishments to effectively deter crime is ethically justified as it prevents more people from falling victim to crime. However it is extremely difficult to judge a punishment’s effectiveness based on its deterrence effect, consequently we must consider other variables that would entail a person to commit a crime.
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