Obligation vs. Economy: The Morality and Economic Complications of Capital Punishment

If we accept the existence evil and evil people in the world, should we punish them? If so, to what extend? Are we obligated to take an evil person\u27s life and if so, how far does our obligation go? Our inquiry begins with a look into the justifications of capital punishment through three philosophical theories: Locke\u27s Deterrence Theory, Kant\u27s Retributivist Theory, and Matthew Kramer\u27s Purgative Rationale Theory. Next we will look at the economic weight of the U.S. capital punishment system. Lastly, should we accept an obligation to the death penalty, we will discuss whether or not the economic burden is worth our commitment. Our discussion will lead to a synergy of the two, one that reduces the economic burden while providing a richer purpose to capital punishment than merely killing criminals