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> Wise Choices | > Index | > Harming Others |
Harming Others
This policy is to avoid causing injury or death to persons and to some kinds of other living creatures.
A typical wish
This supports the defence and courage ideal: "I wish to live in a world where I am not at risk of being intimidated, hurt or killed by others. In the event that there exist any persons or animals that thrive by preying on people, in my ideal world the people will cooperate to prevent those individuals from harming others."
Making the Wish come true
By choosing not to harm other people or animals that people care about (our pets or other animals who cooperate with us or whom we rely on), we are casting a vote for a world where we ourselves can be free from harm.
Following this principle, one might defend against attack from other people, but one would never initiate an attack on a peaceful society.
It is irrelevant if you have the power to overcome the other people. It is irrelevant if they have the capacity of reprisal or not. War as a matter of "might makes right" is counterproductive to the ideal world.
Each of us was weak at one time, as a baby. In order to build a world in which all can enjoy life regardless of one's power (or lack thereof), it is necessary to vote for peace by refusing to prey on other people.
What exceptions may there be?
This is not really an exception, but more of a clarification: There are situations where we may have to defend ourselves from a person who does not follow this basic principle. It is acceptable to harm that person if it is a necessary part of the defence.
Also, there are some kinds of living things that we do not wish to protect, such as diseases and parasites. Moreover, some plants and animals are simply incapable of cooperating with persons, and do not offer any value except as food for a predator. This policy does not prevent us from harming those kinds of organisms for the purpose of protecting ourselves or harvesting them.
Links to other sites
Killing of persons
Killing of animals
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