In our society, like Rousseau believed, we all have the equal right to " life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Rousseau believed that some acts are so vile and horrific that they invalidate the member of the community. As a result the violator will be sentenced to death by the prince. " Every, malefactor, by attacking social rights, becomes on forfeit a rebel and a traitor to his country; by violating its laws he ceases to be a member of it; he even makes war upon it." ( pg, 40) .
The preservation of the community demands that those who try and shatter the foundation of society should be punished. However I disagree that any person should be pu tto death by the state. Instead of killing people the prince should see their own faults and correct them. Death is not the answer only life. We live by the philosophy " an eye for an eye." An ideal community should be able to show mercy even to those who would not have shown any. Instead of destroying a criminals life the prince should require the killer to serve the community by making license plates for the rest of their lives. Death is an easy escape for killers, we should let their eat them alive. If they have no conscious then boredom and community service would have to be enough. Rousseau contradicted himself when he wrote that rebels and traitors should be killed. On page 27 he wrote," In order that a social compact may not be an empty formula, it tacitly includes the undertaking, which alone can give force to the rest that whoever refuses to obey the general will shall be compelled to do so by the whole body." Killing a person is forcefully removing them from society, and in doing so the action destroys ( electrocutes, gases, lethally injects) the social contract. .
There are also other things to think about when confronted with capital punishment. First, the possibility of error. Second unfair administration, capital punishment is inflicted disproportionately on the poor and minorities.
