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2 years ago in Applied Ethics , Philosophy By Fathima M

Structured Debate on the Ethics of Capital Punishment

I’ve been thinking about the death penalty and why it’s so controversial. The debates often weigh retribution against the sanctity of life, and deterrence against the risk of executing an innocent person. Philosophical perspectives like deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics also shape how people see it. Given all this, why is there still no global consensus, and how do different cultures approach the moral and legal challenges of capital punishment?

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By Coren Answered 1 year ago

The death penalty debate centers on conflicting ethical principles: retributive justice vs. the sanctity of life, deterrence efficacy vs. the risk of irrevocable error, and state power vs. individual rights. Arguments invoke deontology (absolute rights), utilitarianism (net social benefit), and virtue ethics (what punishment reflects about a society's character), with no global consensus.
 

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