005. Death Penalty: Right or Wrong?

Death Penalty: Is It Morally Right?

In this episode, Ezechiel and Andy discuss the ethics of the death penalty, and particularly the question whether other countries have the right to withhold the drugs used in US executions.

Join us for an hour-long dose of your Daily Philosophy and take part in a thrilling exploration of the philosophical issues surrounding the death penalty.

Brought to you by https://daily-philosophy.com.
Music: Nightlife by Michael Kobrin, from: https://pixabay.com/music.

00:00:44 Intro
00:02:19 Interference in internal affairs of other countries
00:06:14 Respecting the democratic will of others
00:07:44 Relativism 
00:09:44 Is there intrinsic value in democratic decisions?
00:12:32 Are we biased when judging other countries?
00:13:09 Comparison with euthanasia
00:15:00 Should companies have all rights to their own products?
00:18:10 Democratic decisions and social media manipulation
00:21:00 The choice of the prisoner on how to die
00:23:30 Asking prisoners how they want to die: is it cruel?
00:28:33 Can governments kill their own citizens?
00:31:00 John Rawls, original position, veil of ignorance
00:36:32 Is death worse than lifelong imprisonment?
00:40:55 Should people decide how they want to die?
00:43:05 Flourishing makes a life worth living
00:47:30 Arguments in favour of death penalty: Retribution
00:48:04 Retribution vs vengeance
00:52:14 Effect of death penalty on crime
00:54:58 Do people have a right to life?
00:56:15 Deontological (Kantian) ethics. Autonomy
00:58:03 Should societies have higher moral standards?
00:59:10 The irreversibility of death penalty
01:00:40 The utilitarian argument
01:03:20 The value of life and the possibility of redemption
01:04:36 How can prisoners lead a flourishing life?
01:05:15 A voluntary death penalty?

Philosophers and theories mentioned:

00:07:44 Relativism
00:28:33 Social contract
00:31:00 John Rawls, original position, veil of ignorance
00:48:04 Retribution vs vengeance
00:56:15 Deontological (Kantian) ethics. Autonomy
01:00:40 The utilitarian argument

Next episode: Is terrorism for a good cause ever justifiable?

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