ipl-logo

Summary Of John Stuart Mill Justifies The Continuity Of Capital Punishment

757 Words4 Pages

In his speech, John Stuart Mill justifies the continuity of capital punishment for the worst murderers. Throughout the beginning of the passage, one can find that aggravated murder is the main idea that is being discussed and controversy is if the death penalty should still carry on for those who commit such an extreme crime. He argues that the most dangerous of criminals do the most extreme crimes and that these crimes deserve capital punishment. Therefore, the most dangerous of criminals deserve capital punishment. Mill centers his position around the underlying proposition that punishment possesses an important quality that discourages criminal behavior and says, “to deter by suffering from inflicting suffering is not only possible, but the very purpose of penal justice” …show more content…

What Mills is conveying is that he defends the death penalty because it is only used for the most extreme cases so that in comparison, the threat of death will discourage these atrocious offenses. Moreover, it would also be considered less cruel than what the criminal had done to deserve the death sentence in the first place. The penalty would also only be used for felons of the highest degree who do not have any excuse or reason that could save them of the crime he or she committed. Correspondingly, Mill states, “It appears to me that to deprive the criminal of the life of which he has proved himself unworthy—solemnly to blot him out from the fellowship of mankind and from the catalogue of the living—is the most appropriate as it is certainly the most impressive, mode in which society can attach to so great a crime the penal consequences which for the security of life is indispensable to annex to it” (Mill 1868). He portrays in this quote that these offenders deserve a punishment that fits their crime because they have made themselves unworthy of living among other

Show More
Related
1009 Words | 5 Pages

But I do not think he should be executed. I’m not a minister or a philosopher-and I’m not an anti-death-penalty crusader. But executing a murderer is just another kind of murder” (Welch). But the brother of Tom Hawthorne had a different view “He also took something from from the whole country-our sense of security. And he did it deliberately.

Read More
1318 Words | 6 Pages

Russ Shafer-Landau provides us with two separate arguments about the death penalty in his academic book The Ethical Life, fundamental readings in ethics and moral problems. In the first argument, Justifying Legal Punishment, Igor Primoratz gives us substantive reasoning that opts favorably toward the necessity of the death penalty. Contrasting Primoratz, Stephen Nathanson, through An Eye for an Eye, provides us with an argument that hopes to show us that capital punishment, like murder, is also immoral and therefore, unjust. By the end of this essay, I intend to show that while capital punishment may not be the easy choice for a consequence and punishment to murder, it is, however, the necessary one.

Read More
1236 Words | 5 Pages

From a utilitarian perspective, the potential deterrent effect of capital punishment is questionable, as research has shown that it does not significantly reduce crime rates (Equal Justice Initiative, 2023). Instead, it perpetuates a cycle of violence and retribution that undermines the ultimate goal of

Read More
1161 Words | 5 Pages

The author claims that the argument against capital punishment based on the possibility of executing an innocent person is intellectually and morally shallow. He also claims that abolitionists who use this argument are intellectually dishonest because they accept other social policies that lead to the death of innocent individuals. Prager claims that murderers who are not executed have already murdered innocent people, and the possibility of escape from prison means that they threaten even more innocent lives. Additionally, he claims that abolishing capital punishment does not necessarily protect innocent lives because murderers who are not executed may continue to kill. Finally, the author argues that abolitionists should acknowledge their responsibility for innocent lives lost due to murderers who were not executed and state their genuine belief that murderers should never be

Read More
578 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the entire novel it shows Capote’s opinion of being against the death penalty. Pruett 2 According to the passage “Speech in Favor of Capital Punishment” it can be inferred the stance Mill has on capital punishment. “... as beyond comparison the least cruel mode in which it is possible adequately to deter from the crime” (Mill 23-26).

Read More
852 Words | 4 Pages

“In countries with a properly functioning legal system, the mob continues to exist, but it is rarely called upon to mete out capital punishment. The right to take human life belongs to the state. Not so in societies where weak courts and poor law enforcement are combined with intractable structural injustices. “In our present day society we as Americans have the cognitive dissonance that what the courts say are final, but also hold to the fact that the majority’s opinion rules.

Read More
1291 Words | 6 Pages

He contends that capital punishment violates human rights, does not deter crime effectively, and is often used as a tool of revenge rather than justice. "Walter's case taught me that the death penalty is not about whether people deserve to die for the crimes they commit. The real question of capital punishment in this country is, do we deserve to kill" (Stevenson 313). This quote challenges readers to consider the moral weight of such an irreversible act and reflect on our social responsibility and complicity in administering the ultimate punishment.

Read More
565 Words | 3 Pages

It is interesting to me that Stevenson states that capital punishment is shaped by the constraints of poverty, race, geography, and local politics. It seems as if these constraints are the very reason America debates the death penalty today. Stevenson also states that the death penalty in the United States has increasingly comes to symbolize a disturbing tolerance for error and injustice.

Read More
1224 Words | 5 Pages

Whether it is at the dinner table or in my family’s group text message, the conversation about my brother’s custody battle with my mother’s side of the family seems to remain a bitter topic, especially when discussing my role in it. When my father physically harmed my brother to the extent to which he had to go to the emergency room, the custody trial over my brother and me began. After several sources provided the judge with accusations against my father, I was the final source that needed to assert or deny my father’s abuse; with heavy consideration, I decided to lie to the judge by denying my father’s abuse. Under the principle of utilitarianism, philosophers would infer that lying is permissible if the consequences of doing so are good.

Read More
901 Words | 4 Pages

Death 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.

Read More
1298 Words | 6 Pages

After clearly showing the problems with the arguments for the death penalty and the abstractness of the arguments against it, the author still gives no answers. Lex talionis could be the wrong way of doing things and the principle of proportionality simply says to punish proportionally to the

Read More
838 Words | 4 Pages

Lyndsey Garcia Professor Galindo English 1302-NC8 18 September 2014 Capital Punishment Capital Punishment has been around since 1607 in America. From the time it all began until present time it has not seem to come to an end. I strongly disagree with the Death Penalty. People should not be murdered for being murderers. The legal system is trying to keep the community safe, but is actually getting revenge for committing their crime.

Read More
900 Words | 4 Pages

In the speech that Mill’s presented in front of the government he speaks in favor of the death penalty being used as a punishment, but says it should only be used of a murder crime. Mill’s defends his position on the death penalty by stating that it would lower murder crime rates. Many argued with Mill’s opinion and commented on how sometimes people are wrongfully convicted, but Mill’s responded by saying that the government would have to have full evidence to make sure that person truly committed the crime and is eligible for the death penalty (Journal of the History of Economic Thought, A Note on John Stuart Mill’s View’s on Capital

Read More
920 Words | 4 Pages

“I wanted to make a difference”. This thought of mine is the simple reason that I became a teacher. Though there are a lot of fields where I could choose, I knew teaching is the best field in which I can have a great impact. Teaching is a profession which requires compassion, patience, enthusiasm and understanding. I am currently working with ESL learners of age 12-15.

Read More
1048 Words | 5 Pages

In 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.

Read More

More about Summary Of John Stuart Mill Justifies The Continuity Of Capital Punishment

Related Topics

Open Document