Is it moral to kill to save more?

Jihadi · Mar 1st, 2009, 03:42 AM

Is it morally permissible to kill one innocent person to save the lives of more innocent people?
I would think the affirmation would advocate some sort of utilitarianism and would look to the greatest good.
However, does anyone have an alternative moral theory that would justify doing so?
The negation would look to deontology and the impermissibility of using people as means to and end.
Is it ever justified to use people as a means to an end?
What are you thoughts on the topic in general?
Any insight would be highly appreciated.
Thank you

WitchDr · Mar 2nd, 2009, 02:51 AM

For me, the only answer is no. If you start to go into the intricacies, then definitely people will start finding their own justifications.

Faris Udeen · Mar 2nd, 2009, 06:02 AM

You shouldn't kill any inocent person.

But if you had to kill an enemy soldier to save the lives of a village or something then fine go ahead.....
even if you had no issue with the chap, he was an enemy combatant so blasting him is fine!

Mad_Ajnabi · Mar 3rd, 2009, 11:25 AM

NEver

Mirch · Mar 3rd, 2009, 11:31 AM

Moulana Moudoodi has covered this subject at length in his book Tafheem ul Quran.

diwana · Mar 4th, 2009, 11:22 PM

These kind of questions are just not based on reality.

Innocent is innocent and one innocent is equal to one million innocents or even more. Number has no value.

Innocent can be considered as zero.

Speaking in other way:

A million zeros will still be equal to one zero.