What Is Morality?

[ihaveanappforthat]

Morality. Must the ends of something justify the means? Is it morally acceptable to kill one to save many? Is killing wrong regardless of the outcome?

The line between right and wrong can be muddied rather easily.

All this talk about book privileges is boring, let's talk about something interesting.

Comments

[3houseswatson]

A moot point, since I'd never be able to know that for sure. If they told it to me, why should I believe them? They're holding a bunch of children hostage, so what's keeping them from lying to me about their intentions? Even if I agreed to their incredibly specific scheme, they'd probably kill the others and laugh about me being gullible after.

So same answer as before. Rush them, shout at the kids to get out of there, and hope I take the bastard out with me.

[ihaveanappforthat]

MAKE UP YOUR MIND, JOHNNY BOY.

You wouldn't kill one to save others or WOULD YOU?

You just said you'd try to take a life to save the kiiiids.

[3houseswatson]

Oh excuse me for thinking that following a despicable order to kill an innocent child is significantly worse than taking out a clear and present danger as a matter of defense.

What could I possibly have been thinking.

[ihaveanappforthat]

Who says the children are innocent? It's still a life either way, you're justifying killing by choices someone made? Have you never made bad choices?

[3houseswatson]

Of course I've made bad choices. But the fact that you're implying that day-to-day poor decisions and kidnapping/attempted murder have equal weight is ridiculous.

[ihaveanappforthat]

What if they were forced? What if they thought it was the right choice? You're in such a small repugnant box.

Someone younger is no more innocent than someone older. It's based on choices, not age. A life is a life.

[3houseswatson]

If my choices are a "small repugnant box" and a worldview where it's okay to excuse the choices of kidnappers and murderers because they think those two things - actions which are both incredibly horrible, may I add - are "the right choice", then I'm taking the box.

And even if they were forced, that doesn't mean I have to, or should, bow to that fact.