Controversial Justifications for Killing | Generated by AI
Question: What are unpopular ideas about killing people?
Answer:
Unpopular ideas about the ethics, morality, or justification of killing people often challenge mainstream views that intentionally taking a human life is almost always wrong (except in clear cases like self-defense). These ideas tend to be controversial because they either expand justifications for killing or restrict them in ways that contradict common societal norms. Here are some notable examples drawn from philosophical, ethical, and public debates:
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The death penalty is more humane than life imprisonment: Some argue that executing convicted murderers (especially for heinous crimes) is kinder than condemning them to decades of suffering in prison, and that true monsters “deserve” death as justice for victims. This view is unpopular amid declining support for capital punishment due to risks of executing innocents and lack of deterrent effect.
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Abortion is murder but should still be legal: Acknowledging that abortion ends a human life (equating it to murder) while arguing it should remain permissible for societal or individual reasons (e.g., bodily autonomy or reducing burdens). This is unpopular among both strict pro-life advocates (who see no justification) and many pro-choice supporters (who reject the “murder” label).
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Consistent life ethic: Oppose all institutionalized killing: Viewing abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, and war as equally wrong forms of taking life, advocating total opposition. This is unpopular as it alienates both conservatives (who often support capital punishment/war but oppose abortion) and liberals (who may support euthanasia/abortion rights).
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Capital punishment as morally required: Philosophically arguing that executing murderers saves more lives overall (via deterrence or incapacitation) and is obligatory for justice, creating a “life-life tradeoff” where refusing it risks more homicides. This strong pro-death penalty stance is increasingly unpopular in modern societies trending toward abolition.
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Euthanasia or assisted suicide for non-terminal cases: Extending voluntary ending of life to those with severe suffering (mental illness, poverty, or feeling burdensome), beyond just terminal illness. This is controversial and unpopular due to fears of abuse, slippery slopes, and devaluing life.
These ideas are “unpopular” because they often provoke strong moral outrage, conflicting with widespread beliefs in the sanctity of life or human rights protections. Mainstream ethics typically limits justified killing to narrow cases like immediate self-defense.
References:
- Reddit: CMV death penalty is more humane than life imprisonment
- Reddit: TrueUnpopularOpinion on deserving the death penalty
- Reddit: Abortion is murder but should be legal
- Book: Consistently Opposing Killing
- Chicago Unbound: Is Capital Punishment Morally Required?
- Reddit: Opinions on euthanasia/assisted suicide