re: #421 May Day! May Day!

I’m replying with a philosophical point to a philosophical point (legitimacy of defense, etc.). I don’t really care to discuss SYG and I’m leaving it to the trial lawyers. I think none of us are trained enough for a proper SYG analysis of this case, given various contradictory statements and rulings.

Well - I can debate it philosophically also, because the legal standard is based on a philosophical perspective.

I think that the right to self defense should rightly be contingent on what you do to put yourself in a situation.

If I arm myself, and follow someone, and put myself in a situation with that person where a confrontation is likely to take place, I don’t think that I have a philosophical right to defend myself by shooting them. It doesn’t really matter what I might find threatening in their subsequent actions. My actions have consequences that I can’t pin on someone else’s actions.

And I think that the legal standard should reflect that philosophical perspective.