The Ultimate Hypocrisy Open Access

Gern, David (2012)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/q237hs926?locale=en
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Abstract

My thesis asserts that using the death penalty to respond to a crime of 1st degree murder is a fallible, hypocritical, and vengeful form of punishment that hinders an offender's capacity to help repay or restore the victim and society in the aftermath of a crime.

In Chapter 1, I examine the six primary ethical approaches to the death penalty. I find that as a response to 1st degree murder, the hypocrisy of the death penalty manifests itself in consequentialism, rights based ethics, and natural law theory.

In Chapter 2, I explore the terms revenge and justice within the context of the death penalty as a response to 1st degree murder. I find that the notion of justice as balance cannot be achieved through revenge.

Finally, in Chapter 3, I argue that if the purpose of punishment is to uphold both punitive and restorative justice, the death penalty does not serve as the optimal form of punishment.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1--PP. 1-23

Chapter 2--PP. 24-39

Chapter 3--PP. 40-65

Endnotes--PP. 66

Works Cited--PP. 67-69

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