Is it okay to kill bad people yourself?
A lone gunman shot down the CEO of a large American health insurance company on the streets of New York City. The response in American media is largely one of outrage; the response on social media seems to be more understanding and supportive. While the American healthcare system is a topic all unto itself (it’s cutthroat nature, profit over people), this killing is unique in that it raises the question of vigilantism and the legitimacy of violence in the face of powerful institutions.
It also raises the question of morality in society. Are there objectively bad people? We have laws to deal with that, right? Why then does an act of vigilantism entice the popular imagination so much? Is this an acceptable way of enacting social change or justice? If so, then under what conditions? and who decides? What will be the consequences if it happens again, and again?
EXISTENTIAL TUESDAYS
Existential Tuesdays are small weekly* lunch discussions in the Nook of the TUD Library. Practice your critical thinking skills, learn to see the world from different perspectives, and hang out with your fellow deep thinkers in Delft.
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* no sessions during exam weeks or study weeks
