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Any philosophers taking a stance on the morality of killing a murderer?
What work of philosophy argues for or against the value of murdering the murderer? Any information above the link is appreciated by those with informed perspectives.
Today's headlines on the murder of the late-term abortion doctor are the source of the question. Opinions and abstract stances are better suited to the Polls and Survey's section please. I'm looking for a basis in fact and the argument's both ways, as I tend to learn as much from those I disagree with and as agree. I'm not having a lot of luck googling beyond finding opinion and editorial. Help?
2 Answers
- Dear DogmaLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
Do you associate objective truth values with moral acts?...if you do than you choose to believe in objective moral values. It is a belief which can not be proven as neither can it's popular counter-part Moral relativism, which proclaims that all morals are relative, subjectively derived human precepts. If you are from the latter school of thought you can not assert that abortion is wrong/right or that killing abortion providers is wrong/right only that cultural norms dictate what is right or wrong for TODAY.
It is only a moral objectivist who can say that murder is wrong with any form of tangibility...and because he does, he also says that it is wrong regardless of circumstances or intent. To an objectivist murder is always an evil moral act, even killing a murderer.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Philosophy practically is opinion and editorial, although we do our best to be impartial (if we truly are philosophers). I don't think you will find a philosophic path to the correct answer. Because the answer in this case is itself only true in a certain light.
You cannot justify killing an abortion doctor because it is based on opinion. Abortion in itself has people for and against it. That's why there is no one single answer. I cannot give you a direct answer without bias.
It probably will be the same anywhere you look.