Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 18:52:24 +0100
From: "steve.devos" <steve.devos-AT-tiscali.co.uk>
Subject: Re: terror




Hugh

True - but the events are the result of terroist actions - and it is not 
the same as the kind of catastrophe mentioned below. Nor is it the same 
as the 19th C holocausts committed against the inhabitants of the 3rd 
world by the colonial powers...

Bin Laden seems to be claiming to be acting 'for god' against the hated 
'colonial power'. Though he refers to the Palestinians he is certainly 
not acting in their interests, though he has rashly claimed to be in 
allegience with the islamic subset, consequently aiming to divide the 
Palestinians into groups that can be supported and those who cannot. 
(Social reality seems to be the stuff of a theological persons nightmare!)

regards

sdv

hbone wrote:

> Not philosophers but historians were recently commenting on some other 
> catastrophes.
>
>  
>
> Early 20th century earthquakes destroyed hundreds of thousands of 
> residents of San
>
> Francisco and and Tokyo
>
>  
>
> Several hundred thousand lives were lost in the bombing of Hamburg in 
> WWII.
>
>  
>
> Hugh
>
>  
>
>  
>
>  
>
>  
>
>          
>
>          
>
>          
>
>          
>
>         Hugh and All
>
>         What is becoming increasingly interesting is the lack of
>         serious philosophical writing on terroism. I've spent the past
>         few days searching for interesting writing on terror and
>         terroism and actually there is remarkably little.
>
>         That is not to say there is nothing on state terrorism and the
>         terror related to the state and power. Just very little that
>         i've identifed that directly addresses those hopeless acts of
>         terror inflicted on a human population, such as the 911 event.
>
>         Thoughts and suggestions anyone?
>
>         regards
>         sdv
>
>         hbone wrote:
>
>>Steve wrote,
>>
>>>From here it seems obvious that both the terrorists and the G8 are
>>
>>>plainly unjust, but let me be fair - it is extremely hard to decide if
>>>the criteria for the evaluation of whether a given act is just or
>>>unjust, are real or not. The ethics of the situation become extremely
>>>problematic since it is impossible to compare like for like. It is
>>>almost as if  it is up to everyone to decide for themselves..
>>>
>>
>>Agreed.
>>
>>Unfortunately, both religious and irreligious are hooked on sacrificial
>>death.  That sentiment of sacrifice is at the center of Christianity as well
>>as Bin-Laden''s  heaven-bound suicides.
>>
>>Hugh
>>
>>
>>
>

HTML VERSION:

Not philosophers but historians were recently commenting on some other catastrophes.

 

Early 20th century earthquakes destroyed hundreds of thousands of residents of San

Francisco and and Tokyo

 

Several hundred thousand lives were lost in the bombing of Hamburg in WWII.

 

Hugh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hugh and All

What is becoming increasingly interesting is the lack of serious philosophical writing on terroism. I've spent the past few days searching for interesting writing on terror and terroism and actually there is remarkably little.

That is not to say there is nothing on state terrorism and the terror related to the state and power. Just very little that i've identifed that directly addresses those hopeless acts of terror inflicted on a human population, such as the 911 event.

Thoughts and suggestions anyone?

regards
sdv

hbone wrote:

Steve wrote,

>From here it seems obvious that both the terrorists and the G8 are

plainly unjust, but let me be fair - it is extremely hard to decide if
the criteria for the evaluation of whether a given act is just or
unjust, are real or not. The ethics of the situation become extremely
problematic since it is impossible to compare like for like. It is
almost as if  it is up to everyone to decide for themselves..

Agreed.

Unfortunately, both religious and irreligious are hooked on sacrificial
death.  That sentiment of sacrifice is at the center of Christianity as well
as Bin-Laden''s  heaven-bound suicides.

Hugh