Telling others that people who kill bad guys will make them just like them is self-righteous and goody-goody. In other words, that's total do-gooders do. And I'm no do-gooder.
Sometimes you have to kill to prevent bad guys from going too far. I mean, arresting villains doesn't always work.
Where is the picture for this thing? it's refered to in the star wars part of the examples, so yeah
This can be a correct logical argument or a fallacy, it depends. Let me show you two ridiculously simplified examples:
- B kills A because of B saw A commit a murder. C sees B doing this and goes forward to kill B, so B correctly argues that by taking this action, C will be the same as B.
- B kills A for some criminal reason other than the above. B is arrested and sentenced to death and is about to be executed by C, when B claims, incorrectly, that this is the case.
Note: it is possible to make this argument, skirting over the issue of a Sadistic Choice and how to weigh different moral outcomes, always logically valid by taking a Actual Pacifist stance. If one the characters believes that killing another sentient being is a Moral Even Horizon, then no matter how bad one person is, killing them would logically make them equivalent to the eye of the beholder.
So, in the 2nd example above, if B and/or C really do believe that killing is a Moral Event Horizon, it would no longer be a fallacy.
The Master
How the hell is it a broken aesop? I'm thinking the description of this trope is a tad too cynical. Not doing evil to people, even when those people are evil and probably "deserve" it, is a very common moral philosophy (if possibly rare in practice). It was the Philosophy of Socrates, who in the Crito even declares that it will never be the philosophy of the masses. It is the Philosophy of Jesus, who teaches people to love those that hate you. Pacifism and nonviolent resistance is also strong in Buddhism. Probably other Philosophies/Religions as well, but my memory is poor. I really think the broken aesop thing needs to be removed, since it is not an uncontroversial or factual statement.
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I'll work on it. The cynics have had a major hand in any trope or example related to combat, so this could be tricky. I'll see if there's at least a moderate ground.
There is a fine line between recklessness and courage — Paul McCartney
Done. I hope that helps.
There is a fine line between recklessness and courage — Paul McCartney
I think that's better, it sounds more neutral/factual and is a bit easier to read. Thanks.
It was indeed the philosophy of Socrates, his ideal state is a fascist tyranny. Of course he opposes killing tyrants.
In his youth, he was a brave soldier. He was perfectly happy killing mooks.
Edited by Dagobitus
Previous Trope Repair Shop thread: Complaining
, started by SAMAS on Sep 21st 2012 at 2:19:15 AM
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman