The Ethics of Homicide
Thu, 2003-09-04 14:29
#1
The Ethics of Homicide
Just got my course curriculum through for uni, which I'm starting in two weeks and this was one of the modules...
What is it? I mean what does it entail? Can homicide ever be ethical?
Very very curious about this.
Any ideas anyone?
marchioness
My lordy.
i take it you're studying Criminology?
if i was you i would run far far away from uni and do something a little less dangerous
Vicky
Ah no.... actually I'm studying Religion Philosophy and ethics...
but maybe I should change... criminology sounds way cooler
You're probably right about the running away tho... don't tempt me
Hen
As a start, I guess you'll be asked something like: If killing one man can save the lives of more than one, is it ethical?
It's this idea that essentially makes the issue of war not as simple as 'hell, no, we won't go' - that means *not* going to war can often seem to many a morally minded individual like a worse crime than going to war. If, for example, you're talking about sending in troops to stop a genocide.
sabelle
If it's defendable it can't be homicide. That's why we have self defence, manslaughter & other crimes
Tony Cook
This makes me think of that wonderful question you have to answer on the US immigration form.
It goes something like:
'Have you, or have you ever intended to, commit genocide' Yes or No?
It's just not a yes or no question is it?
mississippi
They're just words, you can put any interpretation on them you want. One mans terrorist....
Now, I could happily line Monster Cock Dicko (who now appears to have a predilection for bum-shagging), Feeble Brain Stufart and Just Plain Mental Fartrodd up against the wall and play St Valentines Day Massacres and justify it on the grounds that the rest of us wouldn't have to wade through their crap to find something worth replying to. So would it be homicide or would it be an act of compassion?