American Philosopher, Louis Pojman
passed away on this date, October 15, 2005. In memory of him, I will post one
of his Pro Death Penalty Quote for the week.
QUOTE: "People often confuse retribution with
revenge... Vengeance signifies inflicting harm on the offender out of anger
because of what he has done. Retribution is the rationally supported theory
that the criminal deserves a punishment fitting the gravity of his crime...
Retributivism is not based on hatred for the
criminal (though a feeling of vengeance may accompany the punishment).
Retributivism is the theory that the criminal deserves to be punished and
deserves to be punished in proportion to the gravity of his or her crime, whether
or not the victim or anyone else desires it. We may all deeply regret having to
carry out the punishment, but consider it warranted.
When
a society fails to punish criminals in a way thought to be proportionate to the
gravity of the crime, the danger arises that the public would take the law into
its own hands, resulting in vigilante justice, lynch mobs, and private acts of
retribution. The outcome is likely to be an anarchistic, insecure state of
injustice." ["Why
the Death Penalty Is Morally Permissible," from the 2004 book edited by
Adam Bedau and titled Debating the Death Penalty: Should America Have
Capital Punishment?]
AUTHOR: Louis Paul Pojman (April 22,
1935-October 15, 2005) was an American philosopher and professor, whose name is
most recognized as the author of over a hundred philosophy texts and
anthologies which he himself read at more than sixty universities around the
world and which continue to be used widely for educational purposes. Pojman was
known for work in applied ethics and philosophy of religion.
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