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I stand corrected. One learns something new every day. Nevertheless, the main point of my argument still stands, mainly that I do not think that ending a life means upholding its value, as another poster claimed.

Taking a life is taking a life, regardless of how you look at it. You talk about abstract things like "upholding the integrity of the law", when in fact I think all you're seeking is revenge. "Exodus 22:18 (King James Version) 18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." Unless my grasp of...

I guess if you would take Jesus' teachings to the ultimate conclusion, such as the one about "turning the other cheek", and "doing good to those who hate you", then indeed it would be immoral to kill even in self-defense. I however do not take the bible as the ultimate authority on morality...

rofl :) Maybe cats do understand social structures, but are just too cool to care. We'll never know - but I'd pay good money to understand what my cat thinks at times. Anyways, if there are any cat people out there you might enjoy this. It's funny 'cause it's true...

I'm sorry, I seem to be missing the appropriate wiring in my brain, but I just don't see how you can justify doing the very same act of terrible nature that you are trying to condemn. You could start with Exodus 22:18. While I'm no biblical scholar and can't comment on the intended meaning...

But you did say that you would pretty much extend the universal human right to primates who possess consciousness? How is this not a moral issue if you kill a primate for food then?

So you make a distinction between species based on whether they have self-awareness and consciousness? Would you then consider the people of, say, Central and Western Africa, who do consume apes and other primates, to be guilty of murder? Not trying to play devil's advocate here, I'm just...

I should have been more clear in my question. I wasn't talking about whether animals are acting morally or not. What I was referring to is whether humans can/should act morally towards animals. For example, is it immoral to keep chickens caged in tiny enclosures, just as it would be immoral to...

Hard to tell with what little information I have, there are thousands of potential reasons. Try pulling the power cable on the router, wait 30 secs and plug it in again. Afterwards reboot your laptop.

Does it make sense to discuss morals with regards to animals? Do humans have any moral obligation towards animals at all?

I understand what you're saying, and I largely agree with you. however I think we're discussing two different things. On the one side there's semantics. If a killing happens, people in one society might describe it with the word "murder", in another society they might call it just punishment...

Now I've heard it all. Ending a life means upholding its value. By the same line of reasoning, killing a "witch" is good for here because "she shalt not be suffered to live". You don't see the contradiction in that? Wouldn't your proclamation of clear support for the value of life be much...

But then the question becomes, which law? Is the killing of a woman for "adultery" not murder just because it happens under Sharia law?

The poster above defined murder as "unlawful killing". How is that not a redefinition of the word, considering there are different laws all over the planet? The OP asked how we define murder. You reply by saying my definition is wrong, presumably because you have some preconceived definition...

I agree. Indulging in revenge, while somewhat understandable, is easy. Forgiving is incredibly hard, but shows integrity and the strength of your character.

In that case, you are responding to a question that no one asked. I don't deny that you function better when you are not under the influence of drugs, compared to the way you function when you are stoned. Obviously you shouldn't be high while driving a car or while at work (and there are already...

To quote Faust, "Zwei Seelen wohnen, ach! in meiner Brust" ("Two souls alas! are dwelling in my breast"). On the one hand, I find it hard to find sympathy for the man who visiously murders a child so as to not to take his life. On the other hand, the reason why we have the rule of law, rather...

Well, you did say "Hmm let me see - can one function better after a latte and a candy bar - or after shooting some heroin and smoking a joint?" Sounds to me that you are indeed talking about functioning better. Maybe I misunderstood, and you were saying that you need a latte and a candy bar to...

I don't see how this is an argument for chocolate or coffee. Rather, you seem to be making an argument against heroin and cannabis. I was replying to the poster that thought it is a valid point to require arguments for why something should be legal, rather than having to provide reasoning why...

Well, I'm not quite happy with that definition. If you use "legality" as the defining factor, the killing of a woman because she was raped (since "she has committed adultery") wouldn't be considered murder in some countries, because it would be legal according to their crazy religious laws. It...