Punitive damages in a defamation case arejustified to punishapersonfor outrageousconduct which ismalicious, wanton, reckless, or in willfuldisregard foranother'srights.
In 1868, John Stuart Mill made one of the most eloquent defenses of capital punishment, arguing that executing a murderer did not display a wantondisregard for life but, rather, proof of its value.