The Death Penalty is Not the Solution Essay -- capital punishment, cap

The death penalty has been present, in one way or another, for virtually as long as human civilization has existed. The reasons why are apparent; it is intrinsically logical to human beings that a person who takes the life of another should also be killed. This philosophy is exemplified in the famous Biblical passage, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." However, in light of recent research into ethics, criminology and the justice system, the time has come for us to re-examine our ageless paradigm of revenge. Capital punishment is a custom in which prisoners are executed in accordance with judicial practice when they are convicted of committing a â€Å"capital crime†. Capital crimes are crimes considered so atrocious that they should be punishable by death. This may be done as an act of retribution, to ensure that the individual cannot commit future crimes, and/or as a deterrent for potential criminals. The practice is regarded as extremely controversial and is intensely debated around the world. Supporters may argue that a serious crime deserves an equally serious punishment, while opponents say that this is revenge rather than punishment. The judicial decree that someone be punished in this manner is a death sentence, while the actual process of killing the person is an execution. Crimes whose outcome is the death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. In the past, many countries have practiced capital punishment. According to Amnesty International, over two-thi rds of the countries in the world – 139 – have now abolished the death penalty in law or practice ("Death Penalty Facts†). 58 nations continue to practice it while eight have eradicated it for ordinary crimes, only maintaining it for special circum... ...As Mahatma Gandhi said, "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.† Works Cited 1. "Death Penalty Facts." amnestyusa.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2015. . 2. "Death Penalty: Facts." deathpenalty. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. . 3. "Troy Anthony Davis." clarkprosecutor. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2015. . 4. "Troy Davis and the Quest for Justice." Harvard Law School. N.p., 7 Jan. 2010. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. . 5. Hunt, Lynn. Inventing Human Rights: a History. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2007. Print. 6. Kant, Immanuel, and Mary J. Gregor. Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Print.