SPECIAL ISSUE： EXAMINING THE DEATH PENALTY IN CHINA Abolishing the death penalty：the logical necessity of the irrationality of the death penalty

死刑渐废论者的逻辑是：死刑不合理、不人道，但是在当前中国，由于国情、文明程度的特定性，又具有合理性，这是一个矛盾的结论。不合理的就应该摒弃。将传统文化、文明现状以及民众的态度与死刑的废止结合起来是知识者的精神自虐。正如死刑存在的原因从来不是民意一样，死刑废止的阻力也从来不是来自于民意。哲学家并不掌握死刑存废的政治权力，正如死刑的存在最有利于政治权力的贯彻一样，终结的动力来源于国家政治权力，来源于国家政治权力的代表者——政治家。

SPECIAL ISSUE： EXAMINING THE DEATH PENALTY IN CHINA Abolishing the death penalty：the logical necessity of the irrationality of the death penalty

The logic of proponents of progressive abolition of the death penalty is that although it is illogical and inhumane, it remains rational in today＇s China because of our national circumstances and level of civilization. This is a contradiction in terms. What is illogical should be abandoned. It is spiritual self-abuse for intellectuals to run together the repeal of the death penalty and traditional culture, our current state of civilization, and the attitude of the mass of the people. Just as the popular will has never been the reason for the existence of the death penalty, it has likewise never been the force that resisted abolition of the death penalty. Philosophers have no political power over whether the death penalty is retained or abolished. Just as its preservation best serves the interests of the implementation of political power, so the motive force for its termination comes from the political power of the state and its representatives - politicians.