Okay, in the hope of getting some people to actually talk on here...
A couple of weeks ago I was arguing with my work mates about the definition of murder.
I was saying that murder is the act of killing your own species. Whilst they said it was brutally killing any species.
What do you say?
Full Version: A debate
I'll talk to ya pleb! 
I've always considered it human on human. Never occurred to me it could involve another species. I think perhaps more merit would be placed on considering when a killing is murder and when it isn't. No? Yes?
I've always considered it human on human. Never occurred to me it could involve another species. I think perhaps more merit would be placed on considering when a killing is murder and when it isn't. No? Yes?
If a guy was to be run down by a car on a road, the driver is within the correct speed limits and is totally unaffected by drugs or alchahol. This would most likely be the victims fault either through negligence or a burning desire to meet the maker (suicide).
But if the victim was pushed onto the road, it would be a question of why. A prank gone wrong? Or, a need to rid the burden of the person pushed?
In my personal view, the former being man slaughter. The latter being murder.
A child starts on a killing rampage of whacking hedgehogs to death with a stick. Probably some awful psychological problems and relationship difficulties resulting in a sick satisfaction in the child.
Is this murder?
Again, my own view. No. The child has killed un-necessarily, but not his own kind. Killed, but not murdered.
This is what my workmates can't quite grasp. To them any brutal or premeditated killing of any species is murder.
Presumably then, we are all murderers when we roll a news paper up and hit that annoying fly buzzing near your pizza?
But if the victim was pushed onto the road, it would be a question of why. A prank gone wrong? Or, a need to rid the burden of the person pushed?
In my personal view, the former being man slaughter. The latter being murder.
A child starts on a killing rampage of whacking hedgehogs to death with a stick. Probably some awful psychological problems and relationship difficulties resulting in a sick satisfaction in the child.
Is this murder?
Again, my own view. No. The child has killed un-necessarily, but not his own kind. Killed, but not murdered.
This is what my workmates can't quite grasp. To them any brutal or premeditated killing of any species is murder.
Presumably then, we are all murderers when we roll a news paper up and hit that annoying fly buzzing near your pizza?
For some the difference was (historically) why killing slaves wasn't murder though now our definitions have changed and it would be considered murder, setting aside the comparative morality of slavery. Some people are vegetarians or vegans because they regard the killing of animals for food as murder.
I think the distinction is sentience. If a creature is sentient then it's considered murder, but if it has no significant level of intelligence (as defined by ourselves) then the argument becomes whether the killing is necessary or unnecessary, rather than whether it is murder. Japanese whalers, anyone?
Mick
I think the distinction is sentience. If a creature is sentient then it's considered murder, but if it has no significant level of intelligence (as defined by ourselves) then the argument becomes whether the killing is necessary or unnecessary, rather than whether it is murder. Japanese whalers, anyone?
Mick
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