`The Death Penalty - Right or Wrong`?

Running Head : DEATH PENALTY

The Death Penalty - Right or Wrong (Name (University (Professor (Course

Death Penalty--Right or Wrong

In a Hypothetical Situation there are three men who are discussing the implementation of death penalty and how it is to be considered as morally right or morally wrong . Among them is a professor of Ethics who promotes Utilitarian Ethics , a student of Ethical Theories who considers himself as a follower of Kant and a seminarian who advocates the Divine Command Theory . Each has their own stand regarding the rightness or wrongness of

death penalty and each provides their rational or divine justification regarding the matter

Their conversation started with the discussion of punishment and why it is therefore justified

Professor : I strongly believe that punishment is justified in so far as utilitarians have long before pointed out that the action must yield the greatest happiness (Rachels ,

. 133

Seminarian : And how do you suppose to know if the punishment would really yield to the utmost happiness

Professor : Well , if it prevents further proliferation of crime . It is right to punish offenders in so far as it somehow deters other people from doing the same crime or violation

Student : But if you punish violators to benefit other people , are you not treating them as means rather than ends

Professor : How else should the criminals is treated then ? Shouldn 't they be punished for the wrong they have than

Seminarian : With respect to the commands of God , it is right to punish those who did do wrong to other people . But it is God who should give punishment to the offenders not us humans

Student : Are you saying that it is not right to punish other people What else should we do about offenders and law violators ? Forgive them every time they commit an evil act

Professor : And what would you propose young lad

Student : Of course they must be punished if they did something wrong

Professor : That 's exactly what I 've been saying . You must have agreed with me

Student : I do believe that punishment is justified nevertheless , I do not agree that it must be done in to promote the maximum happiness

Seminarian : elaborate is it possible that you punish other people without the intention of promoting the greatest happiness

Professor : How do you suppose that would happen

Student : I am not saying that it would not promote happiness in its plain sense , what I would like to address is that the intention of punishment must not be base entirely on treating criminals as means to achieve happiness for whoever or whatever group of people (Rachels ,

br 139

Seminarian : So what intention must be present then

Student : Basically , punishment is justified on the grounds that it is to give the criminals what these violators really deserve

Seminarian : What they deserve is forgiveness God would be the one who has the legitimate right to judge their actions

Professor : Forgiveness and constant delay of sanctions would only encourage violators

Seminarian...