Question about morality: would you support or go against?

[Mael Duin]

Lets pretend that there really was shinigami, or death god, and he/she/it would drop something like Death Note in our world. Lets pretend that someone genious picks it up and finds out its true power. Lets pretend he uses it to kill criminals and act as God of Justice. He or she only kills "bad people", as in druglords, murderers, terrorists and other these kind of people. However, because we really can't define "bad people", he uses his own judgement.
You start to see criminals dying all over the world.
Would you support this "God of Justice" on his way to cleanse the world and make it safer place or go against him because he is only human and who knows when he flips out and who is controlling world with fear?

[MrFenwick]

I'd just hope I was the one that found the death note.

I'd support him, what kind of chance would there be for him to kill me?

[gruddy]

I would steal the notebook from the guy.

No one really deserves that kind of power and it would mean that most people will live in fear.

One person can wipe out everyone if he pleases.

That is something that shouldn't be supported.

He is killing hundreds upon thousands of people.

He is a criminal himself.

[Solid_Squirrel]

he's no different than a Government superpower with a boner to make things dead

instead of nukes and black ops he's using a notebook and remains hidden from the public eye


the only difference here he's just killing scum rather than taking over countries who's ideals differ from your agenda

[seebs]

I would be opposed to him. I'm not sure I'd try to stop him; if my objection is to his belief that he is qualified to impose his will on others, how will trying to impose my will on him make this better?

[zeon9881]

yea, only god has the right to take a persons life away IMO and you have a very big imagination *Cough* Death Note, just saying hehe

[gruddy]

The person whith the notebook may start going crazy with power such as a current president.

George *cough* Bush *choke*

The notebook owner may start killing other races and people who he feels bring down society (Nazi's anyone?).

[Jaeger]

I'd go against him.

As a mortal being, he has no right to judge who is right and who is wrong, and he certainly doesn't have the right to decide who dies. That power belongs to God, and God alone. Only God knows who is a criminal and who isn't and it is for him to decide whether they should live or die. This person might be the God of Justice, but he has no way of telling who is dangerous and who is not. Not one person on this Earth has the right to take anothers life, even with this notebook.

[admartian]

I'm guessing a lot of people here hate Dexter then.

[carocat]

I'd try to convince him to not use it. having not yet finished Death Note I don't know how it goes on after episode 25, but having such power is impossile for a human being to deal with.

And I am very much against death penalty and killing someone. If I had found the book I would've not used it and rather hidden it.

[tmacfan4321]

The person whith the notebook may start going crazy with power such as a current president.

George *cough* Bush *choke*

The notebook owner may start killing other races and people who he feels bring down society (Nazi's anyone?).

LOL, you are out of your mind if you think that Bush has a lot of power. The Administration does everything as a group. To say that the President has power is to say that the Queen of England is a dictator.

[Lozt_again]

I'd support him if it was me and I'd kill anyone who'd disagree with me. lol

Seriously though, I don't like the thought of someone having that power. Other than me of course. I don't
think it is possible to make the moral judgments on such a scale yourself.

the Queen of England is a dictator.

The Queen never dictates. She is always read too and not vice versa.

[Serinous]

Sorry. I AM the shinigami. Haha.

[se7enthsign]

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The ability to kill anyone at any time without recourse, is a threat to mankind in itself. Even if they have good intentions, the power itself can corrupt them.

[magma12]

A human shouldn't take another human's life simple as that.

[Vulgotha]

As a rule I would say no- but the times are changing.

Perhaps vigilantism is something that is needed- but should never be accepted. If that makes sense to any here..... It's all about control and volume of such individuals.

In time, the individual may succumb to the temptations of using it for personal ambition and emotional vindication. For "Evil", as it were. If he were not killed by that time, he would certainly be a target then.


Everything must be in balance, perfect equilibrium. Checks and balances. Otherwise all falls into disorder.

@ Magma: If you refuse to take life, rest assured that yours and all those that you love shall be taken. Society is niether so strong nor so moral to withstand a "Take no life" code of ethics.



As for a true answer: I suppose I would only trust in this power if it were given to me- if indeed I were to ever trust it at all. I would not expect anyone to trust me, however.

But in the hands of another individual? Certainly not. I would ensure they were stopped even if, deep down, I agreed with the men they were killing. There must be some entropy in a system, and I think (such as this hypothetical case) it can be good, it can be just. But this does not mean I forsake The System's Justice nor my own.

In my actions: I would not support it I fear the precedent it would set.
In my heart: I probably would.


Therein lies the conflict and the need of equilibrium. The Reason within the balance.

[magma12]

@ Vulgotha: That might be so, but I believe there's a superior one that advenges the humble (peaceful people like me).

[Bitbydeath]

I'd try to convince him to not use it. having not yet finished Death Note I don't know how it goes on after episode 25, but having such power is impossile for a human being to deal with.

And I am very much against death penalty and killing someone. If I had found the book I would've not used it and rather hidden it.

C'mon if it was a new reality TV show you'd be all over it.

[Plazaskater]

yeah i would be against it like others have said its up to god who lives or dies

[Vulgotha]

@ Vulgotha: That might be so, but I believe there's a superior one that advenges the humble (peaceful people like me).

God rewards those who do the just thing.


I find the level of faith you have admirable, and your ethics and code of morality noble.

But sadly I am fallen, and my wings are gone. I must look upon this earth with the eyes of one who is so disgraced.

[DINAMO788]

boondock saints. assuming the guy means well and wont be corrupted by the power and whatnot. since this is a limited question, assuming his intentions stay nobel and he ecercises good judgement as well as control, i'd be cool with it. theres too many truely evil people out there for him to bother with the normal bad antics of regular people

[Vulgotha]

I had the Boondock Saints in mind when I was contemplating this.

[magma12]

God rewards those who do the just thing.


I find the level of faith you have admirable, and your ethics and code of morality noble.

But sadly I am fallen, and my wings are gone. I must look upon this earth with the eyes of one who is so disgraced.

Thanks man for seeing that. I understand how you feel though.

[valleyshrew]

It would have to kill itself as it's now a murderer. I wouldn't support it because so few criminals are deserving of such punishment, and the potential for misappropriation is too high. I don't really support jurisprudence either so...

@ Magma: If you refuse to take life, rest assured that yours and all those that you love shall be taken. Society is niether so strong nor so moral to withstand a "Take no life" code of ethics.

What? Society is strong enough to withstand that code of ethics, what society that ever existed didn't?

Therein lies the conflict and the need of equilibrium. The Reason within the balance.

What's in disequilibrium in this example?

God rewards those who do the just thing.

How do you decide what is the just thing? Even amongst people of your own faith there will be huge disagreements. The bible does not teach about true justice. Is it justice to rip up pregnant women? Is it justice to kill the firstborn sons? Is it justice to kill everyone who doesn't believe as you do, even amongst your own family? (Deuteronomy 13:6-9) (Luke 19:27) Is it justice to have slaves, and beat them? (Luke 12:47) Is it just to find happiness in killing children? (Psalms 137:9) Is it just to have to hate your family to be a disciple? (Luke 14:26) Is it justice to turn the other cheek? Is it justice to set every person at variance against his own family? (Luke 12:51-53) Is it justice to stone adulterers?

[seebs]

@ Magma: If you refuse to take life, rest assured that yours and all those that you love shall be taken. Society is niether so strong nor so moral to withstand a "Take no life" code of ethics.

So people keep telling me, but they have consistently triumphed over other codes of ethics.

The people of India could probably not have successfully revolted against the British using force. They could without using force.

The reality is that it is extremely rare for anyone to be in circumstances where killing is a useful defensive measure -- rare enough that it's not at all clear that we're better off accepting it than rejecting it.

My own view is much inspired by a moral teacher who was once confronted with the choice of exerting force over others or being killed, and who chose being killed as preferable. I am persuaded that, in the end, this was the choice that led to ultimate victory.

But sadly I am fallen, and my wings are gone. I must look upon this earth with the eyes of one who is so disgraced.

Must you? I thought I had to, but I found it was not so. There is freedom from captivity.