University of Maryland University College
PHIL 140 Term 4
Web-Based Term paper
"Capital Punishment as a Social Issue"
Deterrence & Justice
By: Cristian Rodriguez
Saturday, May 21, 2005
On the following paper, I will discuss capital punishment as a form of punishment
for violent crimes in the U.S. I will attempt to show both sides of the debate
from what might be some retentionists' points of views as well as the abolitionists'
points of view. I will concentrate the argument on the basis of capital punishment
as a deterrent of crime and a form of justice. One can say that both sides of the
debate have compelling arguments. I will show that the death penalty, when analyzed
from a reasoning point of view, rather than emotion, is and always has been a failure
from a sociological standpoint.