Should the death penalty be abolished?
Side one
Retain for the gravest crimes
Some crimes are so grave that only the ultimate penalty meets justice and deters others.
Hobbes: Order and the State · Kautilya: The Arthashastra · Bentham: Greatest HappinessSide two
Abolish it
Mistakes are irreversible, deterrence is unproven and the poor are more likely to be executed. Justice should reform, not take life.
Gandhi: Truth and Nonviolence · Kant: Duty and Dignity · Mandela: ReconciliationCommon ground
Both want justice for victims and safety for society.
How to reconcile them
Focus on certainty of punishment, faster trials and victim support, which deter more than severity.
When each side is right
Use retentionist arguments for rare, extreme cases. Use abolitionist arguments on error, bias and dignity.
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