Is murder immoral?
That depends on what we mean by
murder and by immoral.
Let's leave murder's definition to later
and now look at "immoral".
If it is done to cause harm to another,
then, yes, murder is immoral.
If it is done to violate community norms,
then, yes, murder is immoral.
If it is to do something most people think is immoral,
then yes, murder is immoral.
If it to break the law,
then, yes, murder is immoral.
If it is to violate natural law,
then, perhaps, murder is immoral.
But we must know what is natural
if murder is to commit an unnatural act.
What is natural and what is its antithesis?
If it is to violate Gods commandments,
then, perhaps, murder is immoral;
if I know God's commandments.
If it is to jeapordize community well being,
then, perhaps murder is good,
if it strengthens a community.
Though most people say murder is bad,
they pin medals on soldiers
who kill other soldiers.
Some would say this, indeed, is immoral.
Others would say, "no",
because killing done for justice is justice
as killing done for war is good.
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But who determines if justice or war is just?
The top general of the killing army, e.g. the president?
The financier of the general and his army, e.g. the congress?
The "weight" of public opinion?
What if I kill someone trying to rape my daughter?
Is that OK?
I get out of all these dilemmas
by rejecting that anything is immoral
or moral.
The closest I get to a determinant of morality is the
fickle weight of public opinion
defining rules of expectable behavior.
An individual or another group need not adopt
these expected behaviors as moral.
though the larger, more powerful group may impose
sanctions on individuals or other groups
who fail to conform to expectations.
So, "If it feels good - do it"
Including murdering your father
But don't complain if a powerful group
imposes sanctions on you for doing it.
So, I recommend we incorporate potential sanctions
In calculations of trade-offs between
likely pleasures and pains.
I also suggest by murder
one's pains will greatly
outweigh one's gains.
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