So, for example, I think it's completely justifiable to smile and say "Hello" to someone as you pass by them on the street, even though that person might be psychologically upset that you did that, because they have a neurosis about it. — Terrapin Station
Cultural influences of a society plays a part in the answer to your question, Andrew. — Frank Apisa
On the other hand if you do accept the death of one person like this what logical grounds do you then have for condemning arbitrary violence. — Andrew4Handel
Intentionally, I think it can be justifiable to push people to do things they don't want to do, to nag at them, etc. That can produce change in a way that just letting them be doesn't. — Terrapin Station
Should we choose culture over reason? — Andrew4Handel
I am thinking more of a reason based assessment. — Andrew
Utilitarian has an issue here. A utilitarian could justify killing one totally innocent healthy person to save a thousand lives. But would you want to be that person? — Andrew
On the other hand if you do accept the death of one person like this what logical grounds do you then have for condemning arbitrary violence. — Andrew
You might contrast this with a boxing match however where there is consensual harm. Someone might accept harm and allow themselves to commit it. But I see that as an endorsement of harm per se. — Andrew
Wouldn't the difference be whether you're saving thousands of lives? — Terrapin Station
Can you justify causing harm to a child by procreating? — Andrew4Handel
There have been many discussions of antinatalism here on the forum. schopenhauer1 is one of it's prime proponents. I'm sure he'll have thoughts. — T Clark
Some people get off on being hurt. Masochists do...and derive sexual pleasure from it. — Frank Apisa
Can harming other humans ever be justified. (Other than in self defence) — Andrew4Handel
But I think you have logically invalidated the value of life by killing one person without his or her consent. — Andrew4Handel
Consent mitigates this situation somewhat. You could argue that desired pain is actually pleasure. — Andrew4Handel
, I don't believe that value/valuing is anything other than how an individual feels about something. — Terrapin Station
And the people doing the hurting are saying it is justified.
So are you. — Frank Apisa
Okay...but keep in mind that an Aztec chief or shaman might consider "being essential to human existence and welfare" to be a very reason-based assessment. — Frank Apisa
This is like the positions of wrong to kill vs abortion vs death penalty or the case that criminals do not like criminal offences committed against them. Cases of cognitive dissonance you could say. — Andrew4Handel
It seems to me we should definitely minimize any possible harm offspring might face. I would put the onus squarely on a parent to minimize their offspring suffering.
My overall stance is that suffering is almost always bad and undesirable and unjustifiable. I think pointless and unjustifiable suffering is probably the worst kind. — Andrew4Handel
If you come from the position that harm is unacceptable then that would undermine any justification for harm. — Andrew4Handel
I think once you have reasoned that some harm is acceptable then you undermine the grounds for saying any harm is unacceptable. — Andrew
I think a lot of superstitions are not evidence based anyway. — Andrew
If someone was sacrificed to The Rain God to create rain and that did not create rain that would undermine the justification for the killing — Andrew
Can harming other humans ever be justified. (Other than in self defence) — Andrew4Handel
Can you justify causing harm to a child by procreating? — Andrew4Handel
What does your brother think? — T Clark
In a lot of those sorts of cases people simply are not articulating their actual stances very well. The stances are going to be more detailed, nuanced, qualified than what they may have stated. — Terrapin Station
There are justifications. You may not agree with them...but that does not make them non-justifications. — Frank Apisa
Can harming other humans ever be justified. (Other than in self defence) — Andrew4Handel
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