Quote by Albert Camus
What then is capital punishment but the most premeditated of murders, to which no criminal's deed, however calculated it may be, can be compared For there to be an equivalence, the death penalty would have to punish a criminal, who had warned his victim of the date at which he would inflict a horrible death on him, and who from that moment onward had confined him at his mercy for months. Such a monster is not encountered in private life.
Summary
This quote, by French philosopher Albert Camus, criticizes capital punishment by highlighting its nature as premeditated murder. The quote suggests that even the most calculated criminal acts cannot equate to the planned and deliberate execution of a death penalty. Camus argues that for a perceived equivalence to exist, the criminal would have to inform the victim of the date of their planned horrendous death and hold them hostage for an extended period. Ultimately, the quote questions the moral and ethical implications of capital punishment, suggesting that it goes beyond what is encountered in ordinary life.
Topics
Truth
By Albert Camus