Viewing Single Post From: Vigilantism: Good or bad?

Viewing Single Post From: Vigilantism: Good or bad?
Askio	Feb 11 2009, 07:24 PM
Crit McGee on Speed Posts: 2,860 Group: Veteran Member #436 Joined: October 1, 2005	Specifically, this is another LD topic that is finally open ended and more...LDish one could say. Vigilantism is justified when the government has failed to enforce the law. This is a bit of a touchy issue, as vigilante justice has been quite a mainstay of human justice for a great deal of our history. Though that has changed in the sense of most justice systems overall, there are still parts of it that adhere to that principal. (The castle law in florida being one example of that for me in a sense here at home) There is one philosopher and sociologist that's originally from Germany that comes to mind when dealing with justice. From that, I more or less created this tidbit in a book of political science and philosophy right now. "When people come together to form a society, a government is naturally made to protect those people, in terms of a desirable society. Likewise, it is also desirable to maintain that society, so laws are instituted to protect the people of the society, both from the government, and other people of the society that is humanity as a whole. The concept of Justice is then made to determine the difference between the innocent and guilty, a concept that I remain skeptical of, seeing if all men are created equally in the eyes of our great creator, then one human should not have any right to declare themselves superior as to make themselves the will of the people as a whole, and inflict judgment upon our fellow man. However, since upon entering a society, be it permanently through birth or choice, or simply remaining there as a guest, the people have consented to this form of punishment, and though the laws vary, the consequences of actions that make one guilty are none the less well established and public knowledge if one simply cares to look, which, though I still feel skeptic of this system, none the less is more acceptable. " Small excerpt from me that I didn't feel like rewording. Anyhow, the idea of a justice system is established by the people to punish those who commit crimes, and its accepted. End of story. But the problem is that the justice system, particularly in a desirable society that can realistically be achieved by man, is simply an extension of the will of the people derived from a common consent to create, and follow the said laws. But legal and judicial systems change simply on the whims of the majority for the most part, meaning that they have and will always change with time as new eras usher in new standards to live by as the norms. With this idea, vigilantism is justified in a sense, because the large body supposed to enforce the will of the people has failed, they are simply enacting the same will that should have been done but wasn't. And since the majority will wasn't done, it will be members of the majority that will act. But vigilante justice, even though it doesn't have to be violent, often is. People are to erratic, to unpredictable, and in some ways, are just plain stupid to the point that its pitiful. Justice isn't really done, because people blind themselves with revenge, which I believe is an illusion people use to fool themselves into thinking they are doing justice, when in truth they are making the world around them burn with no regard to it. Now, there have been some examples of good justice being done by one person, but the reality of humanity is that there won't be a hero every time. Most times, more harm is done than good when people do things on their own that involve a supposed justice. I suppose it simply depends on both the society that we're in, the current laws, and the individual or group that takes action, and the circumstances that will determine if its right or not. Circumstantial justice at its purest form. A scary concept I think. Well, there's my two cents for now. Have fun with philosophy, morals, justice, government, and other things until I get back kids. Edited by Askio, Feb 11 2009, 07:24 PM.
	Fire Emblem Online Askio: 9-1-1

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