Could you pull the trigger?

[shitar]

 It is a time during war. A spy is captured and you are the one chosen to execute him with a pistol to prove your willpower and ability. You think about the spy's family and how they would feel if they find out how he was executed. Could you pull the trigger, for what at the time is for a greater protection of your squad and/or army, while emotionally knowing how his family will feel and what damage you bring to them?

This is philisophical I guess, thought it would be an interesting thread. Hoping to get a Helm-style response atleast.

[Nikolas]

I served in the MP (Military Police) for one year.

I found out that in peace times being an MP is the most boring and useless thing in the world. But while on war MPs are in the back line and are responsible fro jails, spys, traitors. So in a time of war, as an MP I would have to kill not only the spy but my friend who decided to flee for his life (and is on my side). It sucks but in times of war, judgement is put aside and I wouldn't believe any Hollywood movie for telling me otherwise. There are no heros.

I would regret it for the rest of my life, but I would pull the trigger. Certainly though, not to prove my willpower and ability. There's no ability in killing a helpless man, and there is no need for willpower if you have to do something.

Not to mention that spies are traditionaly sleazy type of persons that deserve to die (and I know this from Hollywood movies, hehe)

[Domino]

For just a spy, NO. But if i had seen such a person killing my own troops and/or innocent people, i may reconsider.  Even then i would only do it if instructed by my ranking officers.  I am not capable of taking a human life.

edit: thinking about this, what the hell would i be doing in the military if i couldn't take a human life? I could always be a cook who was ordered to do so.

[shitar]

For just a spy, NO. But if i had seen such a person killing my own troops and/or innocent people, i may reconsider.Ã,  Even then i would only do it if instructed by my ranking officers.Ã,  I am not capable of taking a human life.

edit: thinking about this, what the hell would i be doing in the military if i couldn't take a human life? I could always be a cook who was ordered to do so.

LoL?

*domino kills a military prisoner around with a large trout*

[shitar]

 It's easy to learn and be taught to do these things, but do you believe you could actually do it in war-time, Nikolas?

[Squinky]

One could argue that information spies garner could kill even more soldiers than the normal soldier could.

I don't think I have the ability to kill another person right now. But if I had been in a real war, seen my friends get shot up, and hear all the propaganda every day, I think I could do it. Kind of the mob mentality.

I don't think most (real) armies nowadays kill captured enemies though.

[MrColossal]

The Salvation Army does...

[Kweepa]

Killing a spy is hard to justify - why wouldn't you just incarcerate them?

Killing a deserter is even more reprehensible - war is fighting for a cause. If you're not willing to fight in a war that means you're not prepared to sacrifice your life for the cause. Why should anyone be forced to do that, particularly when those directing the war are not? This is a difference between, for example, WWII and current conflicts. Kids were eager to join the army to fight Nazis.

Once upon a time, generals and even kings would lead troops into battle. If that was still the case, I imagine there would be less unnecessary conflict.

[shitar]

Once upon a time, generals and even kings would lead troops into battle. If that was still the case, I imagine there would be less unnecessary conflict.

Sounds like you feel that style was more glorious. I have to agree with you though. It seems before wars were the final solution (no im not talking about Nazi final solution) to a conflict. The winner of a war had the last say. Since Vietname, who knows wtf is going on.

[Kweepa]

Sounds like you feel that style was more glorious.

Well, that too.
My point was that war mongers were taking at least the same risks as the combatants rather than lying around in palaces reaping the rewards.

[Candle]

Would not even have to think about it .
Talk to him , make him feel at eaze, smoke sig with him get him to smile and put a bullet between his eyes.

[shitar]

Would not even have to think about it .
Talk to him , make him feel at eaze, smoke sig with him get him to smile and put a bullet between his eyes.

:o

[rharpe]

If he was given a fair trial, found guilty, then allowed to see a Catholic priest to confess his sins... Then, if it was my duty, I would execute him in a quick matter... w/o any suffering. (His family would be more at ease if they knew he died prepared. And you must remember, killing criminal to save millions of people is a necessity.) 

[Redwall]

I don't think I would have a problem with it, especially if I had done it before. I'm guessing it would get easier each time. But as I haven't been placed in such a situation, of course I can't really say for sure.

[Helm]

this all isn't at all about logistics for me. I don't hold utilitarian ethics, so the amount of people it would save or condemn if I killed or didn't kill someone never comes into the equation. My morality dictates that I not kill any human being ever, and if i did, it would be an ethical lapse that is extraordinary and cannot be negotiatied 'within' my moral context. To answer your question, I might have killed the spy, in your scenario, because I am human and weak and fall short of my own beliefs, but my morality would certainly dictate towards any but this course of action.

[shitar]

this all isn't at all about logistics for me. I don't hold utilitarian ethics, so the amount of people it would save or condemn if I killed or didn't kill someone never comes into the equation. My morality dictates that I not kill any human being ever, and if i did, it would be an ethical lapse that is extraordinary and cannot be negotiatied 'within' my moral context. To answer your question, I might have killed the spy, in your scenario, because I am human and weak and fall short of my own beliefs, but my morality would certainly dictate towards any but this course of action.

Would you shoot back if someone shot at YOU?

[Helm]

if I didn't fall short of my morals when under stress, no. I'd probably run away and hide quite more readily.

[DGMacphee]

I would shoot but use one of those guns with a flag that says "BANG".

I reckon the captured spy and I would laugh about it afterwards over a beer.

[shitar]

if I didn't fall short of my morals when under stress, no. I'd probably run away and hide quite more readily.

How can you be sure your morals would suppress your human instinct though? I mean, masturbation probably sounded disgusting to you as a kid until... well you know  .

You're the wise old man of the forums so I guess I shouldn't question you anymore. You're also Greek, so you are a god of philosophy according to the American education system.

But seriously you wouldn't shoot back at someone? What if someone shot at your friend?

[Helm]

How can you be sure your morals would suppress your human instinct though?

That's what I'm saying, I am not sure at all.

But seriously you wouldn't shoot back at someone? What if someone shot at your friend?

Yeah, seriously, as in all jokes aside my morality dictates that I do not. Whether I would or not depends on circumstance and self-control or lack thereof