Ethics of Capital Punishment

Ethical Evaluation Of Capital Punishment Agape, Christian love, is unconditional. It does not depend on the worthiness or merit of those to whom it is directed. It is persistent in seeking the good of others, regardless of whether they return the favor, or, as in most cases, even deserve to be treated well on the basis of their own incessant wrongdoing. An ideal community would be made up of free and equal citizens, devoted to …

…what they believe. Persons who commit vicious crimes have often suffered from neglect, emotional trauma, violence, cruelty, abandonment, lack of love, and a host of destructive social conditions. These extenuating circumstances may have damaged their humanity to the point that it is unfair to hold them fully accountable for their wrongdoings. Relative and proportional responsibility must somehow be factored in to the equation. In my opinion, no greater challenge to social wisdom exists than this.