Capital Punishment Analysis of \"The Death Sentence\"

Capital Punishment

Analysis of "The Death Sentence" by Sidney Hook

Sidney Hook's analysis of the capital punishment and its effect and implications in the society are outlined in his article entitled, "The Capital Punishment." In his article, Hook discusses the different perspectives wherein the debate over the implementation or abolishment of capital punishment is discussed. Hook contends that individuals and groups that favor the implementation of capital punishment tend to subsist to the 'retributive theory,' whose primary aim, according to Hook, is to "desire for revenge," and not justice, as what many proponents for capital punishment claim. Similarly, Hook also criticizes the proponents against the implementation of capital punishment, who are popularly called as the "Abolitionists." The abolitionists contend (against the pro-capital punishment groups) that capital punishment is inhumane, and society must give the criminal a chance to reform his/her self primarily because the criminal's behavior and acted may have been influenced by "genetics and the environment." Hook, however, calls these arguments as an illustration of 'sentimentality.' For Hook, capital punishment is inhumane, but "so is murder." Indeed, Hook's position does not represent either side; rather, Hook provides the readers his own categories for determining an individual the 'right' to be given capital punishment.

These two categories are the following: the first case being, as Hook stated, "I am in favor of permitting any criminal defendant, sentenced to life imprisonment, the right to choose death"; while the other case are for those criminals who, "having been sentenced once to prison for premeditated murder, murder again." These two cases are both fair and justified by Hook as acceptable, since it is purely objective and justifiable. Hook's explanation of these two cases is justifiable because it does not present problems of retribution or sentimentality, as is evident in the arguments for and against capital punishment. Furthermore, Hook does not give any bias to the society or the criminal offender, since Hook's cases are purely objective and fair. It is fair enough for the society to condemn a criminal to capital punishment if he committed a criminal act for the second time. Similarly, while a criminal who chooses death over life imprisonment may be deemed as subjective, but it is fair, since the offender himself chooses the will to die.