Death Penalty: For and Against

by Louis P. Pojman, Jeffrey H. Reiman

Two distinguished social and political philosophers take opposing positions in this highly engaging work. Louis P. Pojman justifies the practice of execution by appealing to the principle of retribution: we deserve to be rewarded and punished according to the virtue or viciousness of our actions. He asserts that the death penalty does deter some potential murderers and that we risk the lives of innocent people who might otherwise live if we refuse to execute those deserving that punishment. Jeffrey Reiman argues that although the death penalty is a just punishment for murder, we are not morally obliged to execute murderers. Since we lack conclusive evidence that executing murderers is an effective deterrent and because we can foster the advance of civilization by demonstrating our intolerance for cruelty in our unwillingness to kill those who kill others, Reiman concludes that it is good in principle to avoid the death penalty, and bad in practice to impose it.

188 pages, Paperback

First published December 29, 1997

Reviews

[Mars]

Read this because i had to write an essay on the death penalty

[Dougald · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent introduction to two views on the death penalty. At times I wish it would include more statistics to give evidence for their arguments. But overall they argue well. No matter which side of the debate you fall, these authors will challenge your view a little.