Can killing be justified?

[ffs-dontcare]

As I said in another thread, I'm an open-minded person by nature, so I believe it is possible to justify killing in a certain situation or two.

Kill 1, save 99. There's an example.

Destroy a planet, save a galaxy.

Commit genocide against one particular "race", save the lives of untold billions in the future and ensure the survival of the human race on Earth well into the next twelve thousand years.

These are essentially volatile moral choices. You'd do well not to look at an issue such as "killing" in black and white.

And of course, as an obligatory domestic example, kill a serial rapist, save the lives of potentially countless women.

 

[Rofl-Mayo]

Yes it is justifiable. If it is in self defense or he/she has killed the killer should be punished with too death.

 

[llew]

in self-defence, said person is a killer so you are preventing them from killin again(if they go to jail they can simply break out or get early release for "good behaviour") or if said person has tortured people. i dont believe in the human rights argument for the simple fact the person obviously didnt give a shit about the person they killed/tortured's human rights so why should we give them that liberty

 

[Good morning blues]

Extrajudicial killings are never morally justified, unless there is a manifest, imminent, and existential threat to a group of greater cumulative value.

Basically, if a dude is preparing to fire a minigun into a crowded shopping mall, killing him is justified. If you have proof that someone is a serial killer, you are obligated to bring him to face justice in the courts.

 

[Primate]

I simply don't think about it.

It leads to hesitation, which leads to not stabbing as hard.

Win!

OT: Survival of the fittest!
Kill one, save many..

It's all about the individual morals, you cant put someone in charge and not expect their own morals, to have an impact on their decision making a leader useless...
Am I supporting Anarchy?

 

[Xero Scythe]

Would you let Hitler live? Exactly

actually, yes.
I would shove him in jail for life. no chance of parole. Even the inmates who have that sentence say it's worse than death.

Plus, why sink to his level? Who made you God, able to judge who lives and dies?
Exactly.

 

[Waif]

Killing can always be justified by the laws of men. However, if we consider other forms of "laws" there really is no such thing as killing. There is only "changing of state". If one believes in destiny, one cannot condemn a murder or a murderer for their actions, because he was forced to by destiny. That is the crux of the matter. If free will is truth, as it is reflected in our laws, then we are always accountable with certain provisions. Self-Defense, provocation, reasonable cause, and all that stuff.

 

[Ekonk]

Killing is never justified.

Especially when we're talking capital punishment, because what if with new evidence the poor sod that's already pushin' up daisies turns out to be innocent? Seriously, that would suck ass big time.

So if someone's just about to slit your throat, you wouldn't kill them?

That would be with the intent to save myself, not with the intent to murder him.

Oh, my mistake. I thought you said "Killing is never justified".

Oi, I didn't say it was justified. It's just different then cold-blooded murder.

 

[The Rockerfly]

I would... You know... For teh lulz.

He would be an interesting person to have a conversation with.

Best reasoning I have heard yet, his philosophies would be interesting to listen to and debate with

yes, only to lock him in a see through box in the middle of Israel, unable to move nor speak. So he can witness the race he hated so much, go about life in all their glory.

actually, yes.
I would shove him in jail for life. no chance of parole. Even the inmates who have that sentence say it's worse than death.

Plus, why sink to his level? Who made you God, able to judge who lives and dies?
Exactly.

See the problem with this argument is that he can still escape, be allowed to be treated medically or broken out of

Well yes, yes I would. It's simply murder. In self defence, maybe, but it should be avoided at all costs. As Ghandi said "An eye for an eye make the whole world go blind".

But if you get both their eyes the person is fucked

Instead of killing him I would travel back in time and help him get into the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna he was rejected from when he was young, maybe then we would remember him as the wonderful artist Hitler instead of the dictator.

Have you ever seen any of his paintings? He wasn't the best artist

 

[Ekonk]

Killing is never justified.

Especially when we're talking capital punishment, because what if with new evidence the poor sod that's already pushin' up daisies turns out to be innocent? Seriously, that would suck ass big time.

So if someone's just about to slit your throat, you wouldn't kill them?

That would be with the intent to save myself, not with the intent to murder him. If I go berserk and mash the guys face in, that would be hard to justify, considering the fact that I could have mashed his face in a little bit less and he would not be dead. Seriously, live and let live and hate his guts.

I can't imagine you'll think so calmly when actually in the situation.

Me neither, but that still doesn't justify it.

Then how can you justify such thinking if it's unreasonable to act upon it?

These are human lives we're talking about here. The act kills the person, the thinking does not. The act is unreasonable and unjustifiable, the thinking is not.

 

[PixieFace]

Yes.

Here in the south, if you kill someone, we will kill you right back. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Better to take the murderers and the psychopaths out of the equation. Better death to the guilty than to let them live with three meals a day and a warm bed at night.

It's Old Yeller. You don't take joy in killing the dog, but that dog is sick and will hurt others with its sickness.

Kill one to save many, and such like.

And self-defense is a no-brainer. If a man breaks into my home looking to rape me, I will beat his skull in with my baseball bat. There is no question about it - that man is fucking dead. If anyone says that is wrong, then I'm not sure where their head is but it sure ain't on planet earth.

 

[SovietSecrets]

Hell yes its justified. Some guy trying to kill me, there is no way I'm gonna take that. Bastard is going down.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

Only in War and Self Defense. Any other case, it's illegal and immoral.

 

[Loonerinoes]

Anything can be justified. Killing, torture, rape, genocide...you name it. If the human race comes up with it, it can rationalize it as 'justified'.

That doesn't mean you should always do it however.

 

[Eldarion]

Yeah, in self-defense. Or in other situations which I'm too lazy to reflect on for now.

This.

I pretty much think the only fights worth fighting are fought to defend yourself or those close to you.

 

[geldonyetich]

"Justified" is an interesting word to juxtipose to "killing."

Even if you can find a reason in which you've no choice but to kill another, it wouldn't be a situation that's particularly fair.

 

[thenoblitt]

killing hitler is very justifiable