PHL 103 Week 1 Discussion

I have chosen capital punishment as my topic. My choice is based on the controversy
the topic has been raised in the past, as well as various arguments that have been advanced for and
against capital punishment.
Arguments for punishment
P1: Serious criminals need to be deterred from committing further crimes.
P2: Capital punishment deters serious offenders from committing crimes.
Conclusion: Therefore, capital punishment is effective in deterring criminals from
committing crimes.
P1: The families of victims of violent crimes deserve closure.
P2: Capital punishment helps in providing closure for the families affected by violent crimes.
Conclusion: Therefore, capital punishment should be used to help provide closure for
families affected by violent crime.
Arguments Against the Death Penalty
P1: human life is valuable
P2: capital punishment brings an end to human life.
Conclusion: therefore, capital punishment should be banned because it fails to place value on
human life.
P1: The justice system is not perfect
P2: Flaws in the justice system can result in innocent people being given a guilty verdict.

P3: Innocent people given a guilty verdict in cases revolving around capital offenses are
executed.
Conclusion: Capital punishment should be outlawed since there is a possibility of innocent
people being wrongfully executed.
 In what ways can this kind of exercise can help you to look at issues more objectively
and fairly?
Putting the argument in standard form is an effective way of analyzing whether or not
an argument is good (Hardy, Foster, & Zúñiga, 2015). Identification of the main issues that
are presented by an argument can only be possible if the argument is put in standard form. An
analysis of the conclusion alone is insufficient to guarantee an objective analysis.
Autonomous thinkers must go beyond the conclusion of an argument and determine the
arguments that are founded and ones that are unfounded (Hardy, Foster, & Zúñiga, 2015). In
putting an argument in standard form, one is able to gather the evidence offered in support of
a particular point of view. One is also able to understand assumptions as well as justifications
for a certain argument. In addition, one is able to understand what is not stated in an
argument. The logical soundness of an argument can only be done through analyzing the
premises and evaluating whether or not the premises lead to the conclusion.
Do these arguments represent the best arguments on each side of the question?
Capital punishment has remained a deeply controversial issue. The morality of capital
punishment has been widely debated. Scholars have come up with differing points of view on
the same (Garland, 2005). The arguments above represent the best arguments on each side.
Supporters of the death penalty often analyze the gravity of certain capital offenses. They,
therefore, believe that people who commit crimes such as murder cause unbearable pain to
the families of the victims. To this end, these criminals deserve to be executed to bring

closure to the pain that the families feel. In addition, the law punishes offenders and seeks to
prevent reoffending. When certain punishments are put in place, the aim is to ensure that
criminals are deterred from committing such acts in the future. The belief is that the death
sentence acts as a powerful deterrent and therefore achieves the goals of the criminal justice
system.
On the flip side, there are various arguments advanced against the death sentence.
Arguments against the death sentence are mainly founded on the value of human life. Many
believe that human life is sacred (Garland, 2005). It should, therefore, not be taken without a
justifiable reason. Arguments against the death sentence are mainly in support of life
imprisonment. The state has sworn to protect the lives of its citizens. When the state takes the
life of its citizens, it goes against its duties and responsibilities. Religious leaders have been
vocal in voicing their beliefs about the death sentence (Garland, 2005). Their belief is that life
is sacred and only God can take the life of a human being. They thus believe that it is
immoral for any government or governmental agency to take life. The argument is strong
since it is founded on religious scriptures.
The justice system often has various errors. Individuals are convicted based on
evidence that is presented in courts. In some instances, people who have been found guilty of
committing certain crimes have successfully appealed (Garland, 2005). However, in the case
of capital punishment, the punishment given to a guilty individual is irreversible. Innocent
people can thus be executed when they are wrongly convicted. Innocent people who are
executed cannot appeal since the act of execution is irreversible (Garland, 2005). To this end,
these individuals should be given a sentence of life imprisonment instead of capital
punishment.

References

Hardy, J., Foster, C., & Zúñiga y Postigo, G. (2015). With good reason: A guide to critical
thinking. Bridgepoint Education.
Garland, D. (2005). Capital punishment and American culture. Punishment & Society, 7(4),
347-376.