“Can the state, which represents the whole of society and has the duty of protecting society, fulfill that duty by lowering itself to the level of the murderer, and treating him as he treated others? The forfeiture of life is too absolute, too irreversible, for one human being to inflict it on another, even when backed by legal process.”
The quote argues that state‑sanctioned execution is morally untenable because it mirrors the act of murder it seeks to punish, and the finality of death cannot be justified even under law.
In simple terms: State killing mirrors murder, making it ethically indefensible.
Capital punishment cannot be morally justified.
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Proponents claim deterrence and retributive justice outweigh moral concerns; this view is contested.
![“Their [the U.S.’s] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as ‘their home — their fortress.’ And good for them, I say. Well done!” quote by Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ec3/vladimir-putin-261_absolutes_their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolu_10791.jpg)
