Justified killing
Subtitle: the paradox of self-defense
By: Whitley R.P. Kaufman.
Publisher: Lexington Books
Published: 2009
Place of publication: Lanham
Language: eng
Number of pages: 166
ISBN-13: 9780739128992; 9780739142189
Subjects: Self-defense -- Moral and ethical aspects; Violence -- Moral and ethical aspects; Double effect (Ethics)
Description: "The right of self-defense is seemingly at odds with the general presupposition that killing is wrong; numerous theories have been put forth over the years that attempt to explain how self-defense is consistent with such a presupposition. In Justified Killing: The Paradox of Self-Defense, Whitley Kaufman argues that none of the leading theories adequately explains why it is permissible even to kill an innocent attacker in self-defense, given the basic moral prohibition against killing the innocent. Kaufman suggests that such an explanation can be found in the traditional Doctrine of Double Effect, according to which self-defense is justified because the intention of the defender is to protect himself rather than harm the attacker. Given this morally legitimate intention, self-defense is permissible against both culpable and innocent aggressors, so long as the force used is both necessary and proportionate. Justified Killing will intrigue in particular those scholars interested in moral and legal philosophy."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: The principles of self-defense; title: The leading theories of self-defense; title: The doctrine of double effect; title: Double effect and common sense morality; title: Can double effect justify self-defense?; title: Conclusion: Justifying self-defense.