Forums Loading, stand by... HOME

[ View Thread ] [ Post Response ] [ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

Re: So, we need a topic...Lets try this?

Posted By: Seraph (adsl-66-126-231-179.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net)
Date: 5/31/2003 at 12:36 a.m.

In Response To: Re: So, we need a topic...Lets try this? (Phil)

: I believe you misread what I said. It can -generally- be
: considered a bad thing. Generally, it is a bad thing
: to inflict harm upon another person. That is what I
: meant. It is not an absolute, nessacerilly.

: Perhaps I did read too much into what you said. I agree
: that for the most part, inflicting pain is considered
: a bad thing. And rightly so. The point I was trying to
: make is that being a sadist, one who enjoys inflicting
: pain, is not strictly a bad thing. Generally, sadists
: don’t walk down the street whipping everyone they see.
: Some self-control is exercised. For the most part,
: sadists only inflict pain, and only enjoy doing so,
: when it is requested.

I'm rather doubtful, but I've got a degree in Cynicism of Human Motivations from the school of Thinking Too Much.

: Define "Murder" as opposed to
: "killing"...

: Murder, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “the crime of
: unlawfully killing a person especially with malice
: aforethought.” The fact that murder, by definition, is
: dependant on unlawfulness and malice makes it
: undeniably bad. To kill is to simply deprive one of
: life. A person, or creature for that matter, may kill
: for food. One might kill in self-defense or in defense
: of others. One may kill for the greater good. Is it
: wrong to kill a rabid dog or lame horse? Is it wrong
: to kill in war? What about a war against a power
: engaging in genocide or ethnic cleansing? The concept
: of killing is far to general to simply be “good” or
: “bad.”

Problem with that is, murder is thus a -type- of killing...
Sound logic, nothing to question there. (At least, not for me...someone who believed killing is -always- wrong might be able to argue why, but I don't.)

: Thanks for expressing your thoughts. Even when I don't
: understand or agree with someone, hearing what they
: have to say is of interest to me.

: And thank you for the rational discourse.

: -Phil.

You're welcome. Its very nice to have the person I'm arguing with be more concerned with understanding what I said (referencing your appolgy for the possible misread of what I meant...don't think I've seen anyone do that before, myself usually included) than in proving me wrong.

Question, then.
Murder, as defined, is "wrong".
What is it about killing in these certain circumstances that gives one the right to kill another? (Simply being a Devil's advocate...I certainly am not going to question the right to kill in self defense, if it must be done...at least not usually. Sometimes, I think otherwise.)

Seraph

Messages In This Thread

[ View Thread ] [ Post Response ] [ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

For your own future enjoyment, please report any major forum abusers or cgi errors so we can remedy the problem. If you have any questions email us.

The Asylum

The Asylum is maintained by Myth Admin with WebBBS 5.12.