General Discussion

renie408

(9,854 posts)

71. There are so many moving parts to this question, it is hard to answer.

Tue Feb 21, 2012, 03:43 PM

Feb 2012

First, you have to decide what 'morality' is. Then you have to find a moral code to adhere to. Then you have to define violence. THEN you can start to think about answering the question.

For me, morality is based loosely on 'do no harm'. That could be extended to 'prevent harm from being done', I guess. I think I would be morally justified in using violence, if it were the only means sufficient, to insure the safety of...anyone. If someone were determined to physically harm someone and I was there and the only way to stop that was to smack the offender in the head with Louisville Slugger, then I hope I would have the courage to do what I felt was right.

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When is Violence Morally Justified? [View all] BrentWil Feb 2012 OP

Violence is morally justified yellerpup Feb 2012 #1

How is that judged? BrentWil Feb 2012 #3

Bush also said god told him to do it Major Nikon Feb 2012 #6

Yeah but he would be lying... SomethingFishy Feb 2012 #8

When someone is attacking you yellerpup Feb 2012 #9

Is imminent danger never a justification for violence? BrentWil Feb 2012 #24

You mean, like call the KKK out for a showdown? yellerpup Feb 2012 #37

Certainly, I would get out of town also.. BrentWil Feb 2012 #45

No, it is. Hosnon Feb 2012 #40

If attacking an army across your boarder is justified... BrentWil Feb 2012 #46

It might be - but it gets harder and harder to justify. Hosnon Feb 2012 #75

Armies do train. We mass all the time on the North Korean border and they do the same to us. NT BrentWil Feb 2012 #78

The DMZ is a unique situation in that it is expected to have two armies heavily entrenched along it. Hosnon Feb 2012 #83

we were not threatened by iraq. we were not defending ourselves against iraq. spanone Feb 2012 #64

Bush was lying. sabrina 1 Feb 2012 #86

This is along my sentiment Progression Feb 2012 #34

Self defense is always justifiable yellerpup Feb 2012 #38

What about Poland in WWII? NT BrentWil Feb 2012 #47

In defense libtodeath Feb 2012 #2

Well then.... surfdog Feb 2012 #11

If you are being serious libtodeath Feb 2012 #13

Why ? surfdog Feb 2012 #15

For the same reason libtodeath Feb 2012 #18

In that case surfdog Feb 2012 #69

Who decides that? NT BrentWil Feb 2012 #25

Hmm. I think it may be intellectually justified when geckosfeet Feb 2012 #4

Defense of self and property Marrah_G Feb 2012 #5

Is it moral to take a life in defense of all property? Shoot someone for stealing bread? Vincardog Feb 2012 #10

If someone is burning down your home Aerows Feb 2012 #12

And if someone is threatening your life or violence against you or your family. n/t RebelOne Feb 2012 #21

To me, that goes without saying Aerows Feb 2012 #62

Some would argue that having property is an act of stealing. NT BrentWil Feb 2012 #26

Indeed, and some would argue that abortion is murder. Fortran Feb 2012 #43

+1 Aerows Feb 2012 #63

It of course depends on each situation Marrah_G Feb 2012 #22

If it means starvation for you. TheKentuckian Feb 2012 #42

Violence against property is often morally justified Taverner Feb 2012 #7

There are moments where violence against property is not enough. Great Caesars Ghost Feb 2012 #20

One will lead to the other. Do you have a right to use violence for someone defending their land? BrentWil Feb 2012 #27

Anyone who kills another over property has committed cold blooded murder IMO Taverner Feb 2012 #31

Including a cop who shoots a bank robber that has not actually harmed anyone? Fortran Feb 2012 #67

Well I would say so, but unfortunately our courts wouldn't Taverner Feb 2012 #68

I do not consider it unfortunate. I have no problem with using as much force as necessary to Fortran Feb 2012 #76

So a man steals and runs - that makes him worthy of death? Taverner Feb 2012 #77

It depends. I can't speak to every situation, I leave it to rightwingers to assign absolutes to Fortran Feb 2012 #81

In the home, it is a legitimate threat to your life NT BrentWil Feb 2012 #82

Yes, of course. nt Fortran Feb 2012 #85

In this case the cop has gone too far. white_wolf Feb 2012 #84

In certain circumstances I do value property over life. MicaelS Feb 2012 #72

What of the american revolution? Great Caesars Ghost Feb 2012 #73

It's not. Robb Feb 2012 #14

Says the guy... surfdog Feb 2012 #17

You'll find hypocrites are typically less cynical. Robb Feb 2012 #19

Wait..so if we live in any country with a history of violence and we don't believe in renie408 Feb 2012 #70

Since morality is an invented concept without an objective definition... Johnny Rico Feb 2012 #23

Social Constructionism ... BrentWil Feb 2012 #29

I would say that in practice, no moral code allows these basic conditions to be met. Johnny Rico Feb 2012 #32

Moral codes do allow for a majority of people to have their basic needs provided for.. BrentWil Feb 2012 #33

I agree, it's a societal consensus. Johnny Rico Feb 2012 #35

Absolutely... BrentWil Feb 2012 #44

Realistically speaking, was there anything better around at the time? Johnny Rico Feb 2012 #50

China, perhaps BrentWil Feb 2012 #56

Something to be said for that. Johnny Rico Feb 2012 #60

So it is not moral to save your family, for example? NT BrentWil Feb 2012 #28

Defending innocent life from irrational violence is undoubtedly justified. Hosnon Feb 2012 #41

Depends on the social system doesn't... BrentWil Feb 2012 #48

When is shit-stirring morally justified? demmiblue Feb 2012 #16

What thread was self-deleted in GD? How the fuck is this "shit-stirring" BrentWil Feb 2012 #30

In self defense certainly. MrSlayer Feb 2012 #36

In defense of course guitar man Feb 2012 #39

Who is to judge if they are out to harm you? NT BrentWil Feb 2012 #49

Only me guitar man Feb 2012 #51

Violence, when morally justified is no longer violence. n/t flvegan Feb 2012 #52

They'll never get it, believe me. Major Hogwash Feb 2012 #53

Actually, it is... BrentWil Feb 2012 #54

a/k/a "HI! I know how to find Wikipedia, but am clueless as to what it means." flvegan Feb 2012 #55

Violence doesn't stop being violence if it is used in a just means... BrentWil Feb 2012 #57

A hero stops a murder by killing "them" or whatever. flvegan Feb 2012 #58

It is still an act of violence, whatever other word you wish to use. NT BrentWil Feb 2012 #59

No it isn't. n/t flvegan Feb 2012 #61

That's utterly ridiculous RZM Feb 2012 #66

In defense of one's self, or of others. slackmaster Feb 2012 #65

There are so many moving parts to this question, it is hard to answer. renie408 Feb 2012 #71

The other questions were follow on questions to make one think about their consequences NT BrentWil Feb 2012 #79

You're asking me, right? Then the answer is "when I think so". lumberjack_jeff Feb 2012 #74

Every time I've used it. eom Fla_Democrat Feb 2012 #80