Comment on Do you want the murderer of the UnitHealthcare CEO prosecuted?
yeahiknow3@lemmings.world 2 weeks agoKilling is a fast and easy solution… being able to look beyond killing is one of the few privileges our intelligence gives us
Sure.
We are all animals (some more than others). And we have learned the hard way that to realize more of the transcendental values — to bring more courage, wisdom, and meaning into this world — we should preserve life whenever possible. But there’s nothing fundamentally sacred about life… We kill all the time. Literally non-stop. Billions of animals, just like us, sentient and desperate to live, butchered for your use and pleasure. So unless you’re a vegan, you do not get to deploy sentiments about “the sanctity of life” or the like. It’s silly.
If you want to learn about practical ethics and stop talking gibberish, I suggest Shaffer Landau’s excellent textbook “On Living Ethics.”
Sasha@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 weeks ago
I am vegan, and that’s exactly the reason why.
I think it’s quite simply the case that we should make the choice to try and make life as uncruel as possible. That’s what I believe and I understand that many people won’t agree with me.
Also hey, I’m just having a discussion here we’re all friends. There’s no need to be mean and say I’m talking gibberish.
yeahiknow3@lemmings.world 2 weeks ago
Well good. Then I can take you seriously. I’m willing to have my mind changed. Why don’t you think we should kill evil people? Do you want to reform them?
Sasha@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 weeks ago
Oh don’t get me wrong, I’m absolutely an idealist and I acknowledge that.
Let me be clear, I specifically think we shouldn’t immediately jump to killing as the first choice. If killing an evil person is going to lead to actual good outcomes, and is seemingly the best/most viable option, I’m not necessarily against it even if I don’t care for it. Violence is a tool we can use, but I prefer to limit it where possible.
Reform would be great if possible, it likely may not be. I think taking away the ability to do harm is probably the best place to start, imprisonment is certainly an option there but it’s not the only one (and doesn’t need to look like the current prison systems we have). If killing leads to a good outcome, and it’s not possible to do anything less (for example we don’t have the power to just round up all the billionaires and corrupt politicians to do these things), then it’s justifiable.
Once approaching justice after the harm has been stopped, one also needs to consider how victims feel and what they’re going to need to try and reduce the impact of the harm they’ve suffered. I’m no expert on any of this and I don’t pretend to be, but I know there are better ways than the current judicial systems. In all honesty I think it’s a case by case kind of thing.
My main concern with this whole affair, is that it hasn’t changed any power structures, people will still be exploited. I want to see structural change, not just blind revenge.
yeahiknow3@lemmings.world 2 weeks ago
Thanks for the reply. This is a genuinely tricky question, because most of us acknowledge that revenge under some circumstances isn’t just permissible but desirable, but the devil is in the details. Revenge might be justifiable
For instance, it would be devastating to lose a loved one, but it would hurt even more if those who killed her were out there enjoying themselves consequences free.