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Full Idea
All murderers …must suffer the death penalty. This is what justice, as the idea of judicial power, wills in accordance with universal laws of a priori origin.
Gist of Idea
Justice asserts the death penalty for murder, from a priori laws
Source
Immanuel Kant (Metaphysics of Morals I: Doctrine of Right [1797], §49 Gen E)
Book Ref
Kant,Immanuel: 'Political Writings', ed/tr. Reiss,Hans [CUP 1996], p.157
A Reaction
Illustration of how giving a principle an a priori origin puts it beyond dispute. Kant is adamant that mercy mustn't interfere with the enactment of justice. And Kant obviously rejects any consequentialist approach. Remind me what is wrong with murder?
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| 21080 | Actions are right if the maxim respects universal mutual freedoms [Kant] |
| 21081 | We are equipped with the a priori intuitions needed for the concept of right [Kant] |
| 21406 | Because there is only one human reason, there can only be one true philosophy from principles [Kant] |
| 21082 | A power-based state of nature may not be unjust, but there is no justice without competent judges [Kant] |
| 21083 | Women have no role in politics [Kant] |
| 21084 | In the contract people lose their rights, but immediately regain them, in the new commonwealth [Kant] |
| 21085 | The church has a political role, by offering a supreme power over people [Kant] |
| 21086 | Hereditary nobility has not been earned, and probably won't be earned [Kant] |
| 21087 | Human life is pointless without justice [Kant] |
| 21088 | Justice asserts the death penalty for murder, from a priori laws [Kant] |
| 21089 | Monarchs have the highest power; autocrats have complete power [Kant] |
| 21090 | If someone has largely made something, then they own it [Kant] |