sentences:  He likened this act of state revenge to the concept of an eye for an eye and stated that justice should be based on law and principles and not instinct and emotions.Although Camus opposed the use of capital punishment today, he gives examples in the essay of how it may have been logical and appropriate in pious civilizations.In such civilizations Camus states that the death penalty was usually administered by the Church in order to deprive the convicted of the divine gift of life.