Can Killing Ever Be Justified?

[lightbulb247]

Just a simple question.

[jno]

LG, the question surely means justified to yourself? Are there circumstances in which you'd think it justifiable to kill someone?

[LazyGun]

That's your interpretation of lightbulbs original question, Jno - which is my point. The question as originally asked by lightbulb is just too nebulous. Any answer offered will be framed by the recipient.

[Gromit]

Killing Hitler may have saved many lives if plots had been successful. So in terms of helping our species as a whole, that might be justified. The problem is, the person making the call might be wrong, or their motives questionable.

It was clear that Thatcher was an obstacle to peace in Northern Ireland. Her successors negotiated a peace that have saved many lives. If the plot to kill Thatcher had been successful, would we have got that peace earlier and saved even more lives? Not many would support that, yet we welcome assassinations to leaders in the middle east who we percieve as being obstacles to peace.

[woofgang]

yes. if you define killing as the deliberate ending of a life, then yes I think there are times when I could justify it.

[jomifl]

ever ...yes, always...no, sometimes ....perhaps.

[pixie373]

I think it can in euthanasia, or in defending yourself or someone else.

[sandyRoe]

If someone with a terminal disease was in considerable pain then easing their suffering shouldn't be considered wrong.

[lightbulb247]

thanks for the answers.

[dunnitall]

Yes! Get rid of the under class for instance, most are of no use to themselves or anyone else, plus those who breed and subject their poor offspring to a life of misery who will then go on to perpetuate their upbringing and inflict that upon their poor children. Simple answer to a simple question, well you did ask!

[lightbulb247]

well dunitall thats your opinion, its a worrying and almost frightful view, but its your view and opinion, so there you go.

[naomi24]

Depends who's justifying it and their reasons for doing so. Why do you ask?

[lightbulb247]

Naomi, i ask just because i am interested in how different people have different views on the same topic. I am also interested in how some people can justify certain circumstances whereas other people will argue that it is wrong. I just find it interesting how peoples views differ on this topic.

[maggiebee]

Yes!

[chrisgel]

Lightbulb - An old chestnut for you.

You are standing by the side of a railway line. Further down the line are 6 people tied to the track (a). A train is approaching at high speed.
In front of you is a lever which will divert the train down another track (b). One person is tied to this track.
You do not have time to rescue these people, you can only pull the lever or not pull the lever.
What would you do?

[beso]

Definitely justified. Eating an animal without killing it first would be cruel indeed.

[andres]

In a word---yes.When it has been proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are guilty why should we keep murderers in relative comfort for whole life terms when their innocent victims are lying cold in their graves?

[joko]

levels of 'justification' differ greatly

that child murderer, who believes god told him to do it, feels totally justified in killing the child.

that scorned woman, whose husband cheated on her and left her, feels hitting him with her car was justified - 'he had it coming, he deserved it'

that woman, who found the man who raped her 10 years ago, believes killing him was justified

the son who killed his mum because she had suffered enough with a terminal illness feels he was justified - and also actually has done a good deed.

hitler totally believed he was justified in the atrocities committed on his orders - as do all despotic leaders.

'justification' is a very wide label

[lightbulb247]

//Lightbulb - An old chestnut for you.

You are standing by the side of a railway line. Further down the line are 6 people tied to the track (a). A train is approaching at high speed.
In front of you is a lever which will divert the train down another track (b). One person is tied to this track.
You do not have time to rescue these people, you can only pull the lever or not pull the lever.
What would you do?//

Chrisgel, hopefully this situation never happens, but if it did, i would pull the lever, assuming that all the people tied on the track are similar (ie normal people and not criminals etc) then i would pull the lever as it means i save six lives, and yes, the fact one must die is bad, but six dying is worse.

[lightbulb247]

if the six people are criminals or something, then i would save the one, depending on how bad their crimes are, for example murder, rape etc then hose six deserve to die, burglary not so much.

[emmie]

to defend one's family, yes i can see that.