display all the ideas for this combination of philosophers
3 ideas
23565 | Our obedience to the king erases any crimes we commit for him [Shakespeare] |
Full Idea: We know enough if we know we are the king's men. Our obedience to the king wipes the crime of it out of us. | |
From: William Shakespeare (Henry V [1599]), quoted by Michael Walzer - Just and Unjust Wars 03 | |
A reaction: He is referring to the slaughter of the French servants behind the lines at Agincourt. A classic expression of 'I was just obeying orders', which was rejected at Nurnberg in 1946. Depends on the seriousness of the crime. |
23401 | A military victory is not a thing of beauty [Laozi (Lao Tzu)] |
Full Idea: A military victory is not a thing of beauty. | |
From: Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], 31), quoted by Bryan van Norden - Intro to Classical Chinese Philosophy 8.II.1 | |
A reaction: Should be written on the wall of every military academy and barracks. |
21020 | Any establishment belief system is incompatible with full respect for all citizens [Nussbaum] |
Full Idea: The idea of equal respect is difficult or impossible to render compatible with a religious establishment, even one that is benign and noncoercive. Any established church (or government secularism) denigrates nonbelievers, by stating they are an out-group. | |
From: Martha Nussbaum (Creating Capabilities [2011], 4) | |
A reaction: This sort of applies to membership of anything. She is sort of right, but there is no reason in principle why full respect should not be accorded to any out-group. |