Why We Kill: Understanding Violence Across Cultures and Disciplines

ISBN-13: 9781904750420 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 216 str.

Nancy Loucks

Opis

A central tenet of many world religions is a prohibition of killing. Despite this, members of virtually all faiths and none are able to justify the taking of human life in what they consider to be the appropriate context. Why We Kill examines psychological, ethical, political, and moral justifications for extremes in human behaviour through a discussion of the different types of killing and how people are able to maintain apparent contradictions in their moral beliefs. The main aim of this book is to explore human behaviour through the various perspectives on killing in different contexts. The intention of the book is not to support one argument or another in what are obviously very controversial topics. Rather, the chapters are designed to present a full picture of their subjects to provide increased understanding to the readers, regardless of their own perspectives.

Spis treści

Introduction: Religion, Culture and Killing  1. 'You always hurt the one you love': Homicide in a Domestic Context  2. Serial Killing  3. Capital Punishment: Creating More Victims?  4. Abortion: Understanding the Moral Issues  5. Euthanasia: An Introduction to the Moral Issues  6. Suicide  7. Terrorism: A Unique Form of Political Violence  8. Collective Violence and War  9. Massacre at Murambi: The Rank and File Killers of Genocide  Epilogue: Why we Kill