Can Killing Ever Be Justified?

[lightbulb247]

Just a simple question.

[LazyGun]

Killing what? Justified to whom?

[lightbulb247]

in general. For example, a murder is wrong, but killing someone who may harm someone else, whilst you are saving a live, can it be considered just as wrong?

[jno]

are you talking about killing humans? I'd have no trouble killing mosquitos

[LazyGun]

The point I am trying to make, lightbulb, is that your original question has no value, and it is not simple. You need to restate the question.

[lightbulb247]

humans yes, but we could also add do you ever think that it is justifiable to kill an animal (by animal i mean dog/cat etc)

[lightbulb247]

i just want to hear peoples opinions, the question is a broad one, and i have narrowed it down slightly, i just want to hear opinions about this issue in general.

[LazyGun]

Justifiable to who? To yourself? To family and friends? To a stranger? To a court of law? To a higher being?

[LazyGun]

I just think that unless you reframe the question most of the answers will not reflect the issues you are trying to get at.

[Baldric]

//killing someone who may harm someone else//

would be very wrong to kill someone who MAY harm someone else, would be killing a person for the crime of Intent

[lightbulb247]

any, I'm just asking whether you think it can ever be justified full stop. If you do not understand then feel free to not answer, I'm not expecting a PHD level answer, i just want to know opinions.

[lightbulb247]

thank you Baldrick

[jno]

people have sick pets put to sleep, aka killed, as well as those that savage children etc. I think that's okay.

And the police sometimes kill those they think may harm others, even if it later turns out the victims were armed with nothing more than a table leg, or in the case of Brazilian plumbers, nothing at all. The killers are seldom convicted, or even tried.

[LazyGun]

In its current format it is too broad and too nebulous to get any meaningful responses, and if you cannot be bothered to offer a reframed question, I cannot be bothered to offer you a response.

[lightbulb247]

well Baldric and JNO offered meaningful responses so there you go.

[LazyGun]

Only because they both reframed your initial question.

[andy-hughes]

Possibly.

Just a simple answer.

[Baldric]

I did? ^^^ wow!

[chrisgel]

LG is right in wanting more information before responding but to move things along. Yes I can think of many scenarios where you could justify (to yourself) killing a human or an animal.
But whether your action would be viewed by others as justified is another matter.

[snags]

I could murder a bacon sarni right now...