The Real Death Penalty: Capital Punishment According to the Experts

Abstract

There are theoretical and philosophical arguments in favor and against capital punishment. Advocates of capital punishment assert that death is a proper punishment for those who commit the most heinous crimes because offenders owe their lives to society as payment for the harms they inflicted on society (retribution). Further, the death penalty makes us safer by causing fear in would-be murderers so that they do not commit their crimes (deterrence) and by taking away the lives of murderers who might murder again if not executed (incapacitation).