Question

Discuss the morality of capital punishment in the U.S., drawing support from one (or more) of the ethical approaches. Do you feel that capital punishment is appropriate for certain crimes? How would consequentialists and non-consequentialists both approach the death penalty?

Answer 1

Capital punishment/ death penalty is a deeply debatable issue, specifically in the context of various ethical approaches.

Due to the unique fundamentals facets on which these ethical approaches are based, the extent to which capital punishment is treated as just or unjust also depends.

Consequentialists support the captal punishment on the grounds of deterrance. If it is observed that the capital punishment discourages the society as a whole from committing similar crimes, it is considered as a right, just action and accepted.

Further, consequentialism reflects that the proposed capital punishments must lead to the overall intrinsic value as compared to the rest of the responses.

Whereas, non consequentialist theories/ approaches mostly deny and criticise the capital punishment.

Imanuel Kant's deontology reflects that giving an opportunity to the accused to cultivate psyche and get elevated as a human being matters more and is allied with the "Sense of responsibility/ duty".

Aristotle's virtue approach also considers "Capital punishment" as "Excess" (Neither deficiency nor mean) and thus it tends to be a vice.