犯罪是一种恶,源于人的功利本性。传统死刑以其强大的威慑力以恶制恶,通过对罪犯本人特别预防和不特定他人的一般预防有效地减少了违法犯罪和复仇杀伤,具有很高的社会防卫价值。中国传统死刑正义观、慎刑思想及其相关制度避免了死刑的冤滥,古人也寄予了死刑消除犯罪、以刑去刑的美好理想。司法审判中替天行诛、鬼神报应、神判等鬼神因素的存在进一步增强了死刑的威严和神秘,提升了死刑的防卫功能,蕴含着很高的政治和法律智慧。古人这些死刑观有助于我们更好地认识人性、认识死刑。 Crime is a sin, from the utilitarian nature of man. Traditional death penalty with its strong deterrent evil to evil, through the special prevention of criminals and general prevention of others without specific effective in reducing the crimes and revenge killing, with high social defense value. China’s traditional concept of death penalty justice, cautious thoughts and related systems to avoid the miscarriage of justice, the ancients also placed the death penalty to eliminate the crime, the penalty to the good ideals. The existence of ghosts, gods and other ghosts and gods in judicatory trials further enhances the dignity and mystery of the death penalty and enhances the defense function of the death penalty, implying high political and legal wisdom. The concept of the death penalty for the ancients helps us to better understand human nature and recognize the death penalty.