Philosophy 2083F/G Chapter Notes -Consequentialism, Act Utilitarianism
6 Dec 2012
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Terrorism, morality and surpreme emergency j coady. Concentrate on one key element in common responses to and fears about terrorism, namely the idea that it involves innocent victims. The organized use of violence to attack non-combatants or innocents or their property for political purpose. Wise to preserve the possibility of justified revolutionary violence that can not only plead a just cause but also avoid the taint of terrorism. The just war tradition makes the distinction between combatant and non-combatant or guilty/innocent hinge on answers to the question. Hence it avoids a complete equation between non-combatant or innocent and civilian, and rightly so, since there will be many civilians in armed conflicts. Expression non-combatant has some advantages over the word innocent. Ordinary police force against criminals isn"t terrorist but police can, engage in terrorism when they use violence for political purposes against innocent citizens. Terrorism is not the only wrong that political violence can commit.
