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01-02-2011 , 02:41 AM

425kid

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Wouldn't killing anyone who believes in a perfect afterlife be altruistic?

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01-02-2011 , 03:00 AM

JackHighFlop

adept

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No, because there is no afterlife.

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01-02-2011 , 03:13 AM

425kid

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Originally Posted by JackHighFlop

No, because there is no afterlife.

im asking the religious people

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01-02-2011 , 06:20 AM

gg911gg

grinder

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 450

Sure it would. The biggest reason is that they have "free will" and nobody can predict with 100% confidence whether they will stay faithful if we let them live.

So if we kill a theist we have partial merits for him going to heaven certainly. If we don't kill him, he is not going to heaven certainly.

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01-02-2011 , 07:01 AM

Hardball47

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Originally Posted by gg911gg

This assumes that all theists go to heaven. Guarantee of heaven is not a certainty under all theistic subscriptions.

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01-02-2011 , 07:26 AM

gg911gg

grinder

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 450

I was obviously talking about the ones who believe that believing is a ticket to heaven.

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01-02-2011 , 10:17 AM

madnak

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Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 19,742

Quote:

Originally Posted by 425kid

Wouldn't killing anyone who believes in a perfect afterlife be altruistic?

It's only altruistic if the killer believes in a perfect afterlife. The victim's beliefs are irrelevant.

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01-02-2011 , 12:09 PM

bigpooch

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Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 3,208

Quote:

Originally Posted by 425kid

Wouldn't killing anyone who believes in a perfect afterlife be altruistic?

From Wikipedia's article on altruism ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruism ):

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Jainism

The fundamental principles of Jainism revolve around the concept of altruism, not only for humans but for all sentient beings. This religion preaches the view of Ahimsa - to live and let live, thereby not harming sentient beings, i.e. uncompromising reverence for all life. Jainism considers all living things to be equal. The first Thirthankar, Rishabh introduced the concept of altruism for all living beings, from extending knowledge and experience to others to donation, giving oneself up for others, non-violence and compassion for all living things.

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01-02-2011 , 12:28 PM

tame_deuces

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Originally Posted by madnak

It's only altruistic if the killer believes in a perfect afterlife. The victim's beliefs are irrelevant.

He could act on incomplete information.

Ofcourse when we are talking about killings what I'm saying becomes a little extreme so it seems silly; but for example if we assume I bring you coffee because I think you could want coffee then that could be altruistic, even if I realize there could be quite a chance you don't want coffee...it could even be altruistic because I think there might be miniscule chance you want coffee.

But certainly, the killer/bringer of coffee would have to be convinced his action was for the best.

Let's hope we're not causing a sudden boom in agnostic serialkillers.

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01-02-2011 , 12:29 PM

#10

Hopey

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What's truly altruistic is killing infants before they have a chance to sin. Free ticket to heaven, baby!

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01-02-2011 , 12:49 PM

#11

Concerto

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Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,564

Quote:

Originally Posted by 425kid

Wouldn't killing anyone who believes in a perfect afterlife be altruistic?

Violating someone's rights, in this case their right to life, is not altruism.

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01-02-2011 , 01:13 PM

#12

tame_deuces

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Originally Posted by Concerto

Violating someone's rights, in this case their right to life, is not altruism.

You are implying altruism is only possible given perfect knowledge. I don't see a big problem with the view ("if action X might be bad it is not altruistic, thus given lack of perfect knowledge no actions are altruistic"), but it seems very problematic to make this fit with your religion's view regarding original sin.

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01-02-2011 , 02:06 PM

#13

gg911gg

grinder

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 450

Quote:

Originally Posted by Concerto

Violating someone's rights, in this case their right to life, is not altruism.

It depends how you define altruism.

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