Is it alright to kill sentient beings?

[Iron Mal]

No. And if we all were smart enough to figure that out there would be no war/murder. Its not difficult.

This is relying on a certain level of humanity and compassion that, frankly, doesn't exist in most people.

Strictly speaking it isn't 'right' to kill anything but that doesn't change the fact that it has to be done on occasion (it is a nessercary evil).

Necessary evil when someone else does it, yes. Doesn't mean humanity is any less stupid though.

The idea that all the violence and killing that humanity is responseable for over the years is a result of stupidity is a rather naive assumption.

Most genocides and wars are masterminded by very intelligent people (these are also people who tend to be smart enough to get other people to do the killing for them).

 

[Vohn_exel]

I guess it depends on whether or not I'm going to eat them. And I'm not a zombie, so I guess that narrows things down a bit.

But seriously, I myself wouldn't go out and shoot a cow, but I like cows to be shot so I can have a hamburger. I believe in capital punishment, but I probably wouldn't pull the switch myself.

Killing is bad, and wrong. Infact, there should be a new, stronger word for killing, like Badwrong or badong. Yes, killing is badong.

 

[Toaster Hunter]

killing is a nessesary evil. Warfare, self defense and other circumstances require taking a life. This is not something to ba taken lightly, but it must be done.

I don't see this thread ending well.

 

[Raven's Nest]

Yes, it is.

Be it for whatever reason, I consider it fine and dandy. War? Sure. Why not? War is good for a lot of things, and besides, sometimes you need to remind people exactly who has the most dangerous army/navy/air force combination. Peronsal reasons? Believe me, if someone raped or killed someone I loved, I'd kill them so dead their body would be scattered across a four-mile area. Civil Unrest? Okays. Dueling? How can you object to what two people do with mutual consent?

Killing's part of us, and let's not forget that.

I have never killed anyone or anything bigger than an insect in my life. (apart from a frog that died in my hands for no apparent reason). So I don't consider killing to be a part of me. You can say that it's a part of humanity if you want but I really think it's an unfair statement. Just because my ancestors may have killed in the past, it doesn't mean that history should be mine to bear.

Also, this is aimed at anyone. At what point does killing to protect someone become wrong? I think the law states you may only protect someone from harm if they cannot protect themselves. And this is only to the point where the attacker/s stop. I'm pretty sure you can't just shoot someone dead for starting a fight with your mate in a pub. And I wonder at what point the killing of multiple people to save a single life stops being justified?

 

[LiftYourSkinnyFists]

War is good, Murder has its reasons they're all natural to us humans.. can't help it.

 

[Raven's Nest]

Any form of killing is completely OK. The idea of something being wrong, incorrect, or say...cruel, is just that. An idea; It's all in your head, it is completely subjective, and thinking that it's wrong only makes you mentally weaker. The fact of the matter is that the universe doesnt see killing as wrong, it doesn't see anything. No matter how much people want to believe that it's wrong, it's really just a baseless opinion. Any argument against this is completely void. You can pour your heart out, but ultimately it's just a bunch of electrochemical reactions going on in your brain (due to your conditioning)telling you "this is wrong".

I take it you don't have many friends?

 

[Sharpeye42]

Killing is a part of human life that is why violent games are made, to suppress the urge to actually kill someone but you would think that the human race would've out grown such a primitive act by now.

 

[A Weary Exile]

Only in self-defense.

 

[Carbonhunter]

I believe the word you are looking for is "sapient". The two are often used interchangably in media, especially science fiction, but they are really two distinctly different things.

In the real world, I'd treat killing other sapient lifeforms the exact same way as killing other humans. Something that should only be done if absolutely neccessary and in self defense, or the defense of others.

Sapient: a NASDAQ-traded company
Sapience: the ability of an organism or entity to act with judgment.
Sentience: the ability to feel or perceive subjectively.

NASDAQ Traded companies are the nicest companies on earth, so never.
ALL animals act with judgement, never seen a cat jump off a cliff. So yes, cause beef is tasty.
I have no idea how to perceive subjectively, which means I'm fine, so yes it's fine!

OT- I know what you mean and it doesn't matter if it's right of not, human beings can't help themselves, lock four people in a room with a machete and in a month you're left with one person... a very fat person...

 

[DrDeath3191]

In self defense, it is perfectly okay to kill a sentient being.

 

[Captain Picard]

Why are we exempt from this? Because we can talk? Because we make art? we are just more intelligent. Animals have their own personalities and feelings too, they just aren't as needlessly complex.

"Needlessly complex"? Needlessly complex perhaps, if we don't choose to use our NATURAL abilities and the physical and abstract apparatuses we've produced from these abilities. I wouldn't kill another being that is intelligent (relative to a human) and doesn't make a pest of itself. If it were intelligent enough, I wouldn't kill it even if it DID make a pest of itself, unless self defense was necessary.

You value yourself too little if you believe your life is worth no more than that of an ant, or a spider. Creatures with little intelligence relative to our own, short lifespans, and the ablility to reproduce rapidly in huge numbers are truly not worth much compared to a human. Get used to it, because that's the way the world works.

Simply put, we are in a league of our own because nothing has the power to force us to act otherwise. Enjoy it.

 

[DrDeath3191]

it is perfectly okay to kill a being.

Couldn't agree more.

Killing isn't a TERRIBLE CRIME or whatever.
It's just killing.

Why did you feel the need to alter my post into that?

 

[oppp7]

I believe in cpaital punishment. It's a good way to deter crimes.

 

[EMFCRACKSHOT]

Yes, it is.

Be it for whatever reason, I consider it fine and dandy. War? Sure. Why not? War is good for a lot of things, and besides, sometimes you need to remind people exactly who has the most dangerous army/navy/air force combination. Peronsal reasons? Believe me, if someone raped or killed someone I loved, I'd kill them so dead their body would be scattered across a four-mile area. Civil Unrest? Okays. Dueling? How can you object to what two people do with mutual consent?

Killing's part of us, and let's not forget that.

I couldnt agree more with you good sir. Everything you just said is 100% right.
The desire to kill is one of the srongest desires in human nature. I say go with it.

 

[GothmogII]

Yes, it is.

Be it for whatever reason, I consider it fine and dandy. War? Sure. Why not? War is good for a lot of things, and besides, sometimes you need to remind people exactly who has the most dangerous army/navy/air force combination. Peronsal reasons? Believe me, if someone raped or killed someone I loved, I'd kill them so dead their body would be scattered across a four-mile area. Civil Unrest? Okays. Dueling? How can you object to what two people do with mutual consent?

Killing's part of us, and let's not forget that.

It's funny you should mention rape, which, while considered an awful awful thing is still 'natural' in the sense that rage, desire and the desire to have sex/or to be dominant are all integral parts of being human. So, I can either take it you condone rape only insofar as it -doesn't- affect yourself or your loved ones, or more likely, that you simply contradicted yourself.

As for war being good, defensively, in order to prevent more loss of life than would occur, yes, it's a very good thing, not to mention all the technological discoveries that have come about as such (though whether those would have arrived on their own is another thing). But seriously, when ever has the aggressor been seen as the 'good' guy? Over power, territory, wealth, revenge, these are -good- things to war over? When? If the other guy happens to be not that well liked more than you, it's okay then right?

If we take that kind of 'war is always good' attitude, it would be a miracle that most of us would be here discussing the matter!! Then again, my sarcasm detector may be broken.

 

[Jedoro]

I believe in cpaital punishment. It's a good way to deter crimes.

Capital punishment isn't deterrence, it just keeps someone from being a repeat offender.

OT: The world is just better off without certain members of a sentient species. Killing isn't wrong, but the unjustified killing (i.e. murder) is. Killing in defense to neutralize a threat is perfectly okay in my book.