ipl-logo

Kant Vs Bentham Essay

1256 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Controversies on the death penalty

The death penalty is an ongoing conflict people debate daily if it is right or wrong. Immanuel Kant and Jeremy Bentham have conflicting beliefs on how decisions should be made. It will be interesting to compare what Kant and Bentham would think about the death penalty. They both believe in doing good, but under different circumstances. Bentham focused on seeking pleasures for one self and others around. Kant focused on doing good wills, without using other people as a means of reward. I chose to analyze the death penalty, because it is a complex issue with many pros and cons. Bentham and Kant have views that are interesting to compare and contrast with any more moral problems. Jeremy Bentham’s main belief is to “seek pleasure for …show more content…

It seems hypocritical that one would kill someone for killing someone. I think one of Kant’s biggest beliefs was not to use another person as a means to give oneself more power. I do not believe the judge is trying to make himself more powerful executing a person, but they are using a person as a means to clear up prison space and to save money. If laws are universal, then the death penalty should also be looked at like killing is. On the other hand, I believe Bentham would believe in the death penalty. He believes in the greatest good for greatest amount of people. Kant would rebuttal this statement by saying you should not take someone’s life, even if it is for the greatest number of people. An example from Classic Philosophical Questions, Kant says as an example, if someone put a person in a room with five others and a gun and told the person to shoot someone for everyone to live, that person should not shoot the person because it would be taking someone’s life for someone else’s means (). Bentham also believed pleasures should outweigh pains. I am not sure how killing someone can ease the family of the victim’s pains. Therefore, the pleasures would not outweigh the pain regardless. I believe both bring up interesting points, but Kant has the upper hand over Bentham in this

Show More
Related

Persky Vs Brock-Turner Essay

361 Words | 2 Pages

It is fathomable that it is an exceedingly difficult position to face and the decision the judge came up was equally challenging, however, there must be an alternative resolution. Whether we look to deontological the inquiry ethics and ethical decisions based on an emerging behavior the manner on this court case shed light on what is deemed “right” or the other hand who is honestly worth protecting. I have to irradiate that Immanuel Kant the German philosopher statement applies in this court case, “that all consequentialist theories missed something crucial to ethics by neglecting the concept of

Read More

David Oshinsky's Capital Punishment On Trial

1434 Words | 6 Pages

Oshinsky did a remarkable job explaining the history of the death penalty in a clear and concise way. While the text was fairly short, he effectively provided his readers with well documented and relevant information on how controversial the death penalty has been throughout the past few centuries. He undertook an exceptionally important issue that many Americans do not know much about, or may have conflicting feelings

Read More

Compare The Bill Of Rights To The Philadelphia Convention

334 Words | 2 Pages

On May 25, 1787, our forefathers gathered at the Philadelphia convention, to write on a document that shaped this country for the better. James Madison presented the Constitution and Bill of Rights to the convention in Philadelphia along with Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of independence. On September 17, 1787, the constitution was signed. Later came the Bill of Rights which was later signed on December 15, 1791.

Read More

Edward Koch Ethos

322 Words | 2 Pages

The death penalty has been one of the most controversial debates in the United States. Some believe that an eye for an eye is an effective mean of punishment while others believe that such mean of punishment is not effective in modern society. Edward Koch believes the death penalty affirms the sanctity of life. In the article by Edward Koch, published in The New Republic, “Death and Justice: How Capital Punishment Affirms Life,’ he utilizes the rhetorical devices of ethos, pathos and logos to justify his position for the death penalty towards the people opposing the death penalty.

Read More

Jeffrey Reiman's Arguments Against Capital Punishment

1646 Words | 7 Pages

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.

Read More

Does The Death Penalty Violate The 8th Amendment

405 Words | 2 Pages

Generally, the public sought out the stern implementation of the death penalty. But contrary to this, the use of the death penalty,

Read More

Analysis Of Just Mercy By Bryan Stevenson

1072 Words | 5 Pages

A question we need to ask ourselves and our judicial system is if we should be able to kill, and who deserves the power to make that decision? Throughout history in America, our judicial system has always used retributive justice as a way to condemn crime and give out punishment. Retributive justice is a system that focuses on punishing the offender rather than preventing and rehabilitating. This way of dealing with crime has only harmed the people involved and created more problems like poverty, and unjust cases, and makes it harder for convicts to live life in the future. The book ‘Just Mercy’ written by Bryan Stevenson covers these issues that thousands of Americans face, even today.

Read More

Innocent Until Proven Guilty: Lester Bower's Death Penalty

1841 Words | 8 Pages

Whether a criminal is guilty of committing murder or any other capital offense, they should all be given the same sentence - life in prison. How is it fair to allow them to voluntarily choose the death penalty over prison? Criminals willingly sought to break the law and should endure the lifelong debt they owe not only to society but to the family of the innocent victims whose lives have been taken. As asserted by Robert Johnson, a professor of justice and law, and Sandra Smith, a professor of legal studies, death by incarceration is a more effective and suitable form of punishment than the death penalty (Cromie and Zott 174). Although some might argue that it is unfair to keep a criminal alive, they fail to understand that the freedom they once had is permanently lost.

Read More

8th Amendment Essay

1044 Words | 5 Pages

As with many other controversial opinions both groups for, and against capital punishment have valid opinions. So let's dive into the philosophy of both sides and an

Read More

Immanuel Kant's Theory Of The Death Penalty

706 Words | 3 Pages

Immanuel Kant is an influential philosopher, known for his work in ethics and a supporter of the death penalty. According to Avaliani (2004), Kant developed the first scientific approach to capital punishment (Avaliani, 2004). His theory argues that if a crime violates social laws then it is punishable. If an individual commits murder, then their punishment must be death. Avaliani (2004), states that according to Kant 's theory of the death penalty, the court is justified in giving an offender, that has taken innocent life capital punishment.

Read More

Locke Vs Kant

1255 Words | 6 Pages

Two of the most prominent philosophers in history are Immanuel Kant and John Locke. These two men had created the foundation for modern philosophy with their ideology and works. Immanuel Kant, born 22 April 1724 – 12 February 1804, was a German philosopher who is widely considered the central figure of modern philosophy. Kant had argued that it is impossible to know every minuet detail about everything. Kant took himself to have effected a Copernican revolution in philosophy, relating to Copernicus ' reversal of the geocentric theory that the cosmos orbited the Earth.

Read More

Strengths And Weaknesses Of Utilitarianism

1711 Words | 7 Pages

Utilitarianisms would answer the question in the affirmative and change the track so only one person has to suffer. However, we have to question if the Utilitarianism is applicable to such ethical questions (Smart & Williams, 1973). This essay will outline several strength and weaknesses of the Utilitarianism devised by Jeremy Bentham. Firstly, the Utilitarianism will be outlined, secondly some strength and weaknesses are explained by employing examples, and thirdly several solution approaches for dilemmas Bentham’s Utilitarianism is facing will be sketched.

Read More

Persuasive Speech: Why The Death Penalty Must End

767 Words | 4 Pages

I will now introduce the fading of humanity. People suggest and would like that death penalty should still exist. They think about safety. They think about how they will feel safe if a murder is executed. They do not think that they vote for violation of the human rights.

Read More

Persuasive Essay On The Death Penalty

961 Words | 4 Pages

Another pressing issue associated with the death penalty is the morals behind it. It teaches society that if someone has done something wrong you could just murder

Read More

Examples Of Utilitarianism In The Dark Knight

751 Words | 4 Pages

The utilitarian philosophers Jeremy Bentham and

Read More

More about Kant Vs Bentham Essay

Related Topics

Open Document