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Yes

13 (44.8%)

No

0 (0%)

Bonus question: Is it morally ok to kill psychopaths?

1 (3.4%)

Yes

3 (10.3%)

No

7 (24.1%)

Bonus question: Are psychopaths people under the bible?

1 (3.4%)

Yes

4 (13.8%)

No

0 (0%)

Total Members Voted: 13

[Andres]

Psychopaths are characterised with the inability to feel guilt or remorse. Thus they have no concept of morality, unlike even sociopaths (sociopaths are different in that their morality is often strange or twisted, but it's there.) If a person can't even comprehend right and wrong, can they even be called people?

Bonus question 1: Is it morally acceptable to kill psychopaths?
Bonus question 2: According to the bible, Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Psychopaths are unable to understand good and evil, so are they non-people from a biblical point of view?

[~Neri]

The concepts of right and wrong are a construct of human civilization. If civilization did not exist, those concepts would not exist. Morality is also a construct. You're thinking of Empathy.

Psychopaths can in fact comprehend what is right and wrong by civilizations definition. They are capable of learning and being taught. They simply do not feel remorse for committing what civilization deems "Wrong."

Psychopaths don't feel empathy. That's the difference from standard people. They still qualify as people however. Every civilization needs hunters and butchers to ensure food gets on the table at night. Most Empathic people get squeamish about that stuff.

It is not morally acceptable to kill Anyone. It is not Empathically acceptable to kill Anyone.

I don't do religion. The bible is flawed on so many levels that I'm not going to even give an argument for or against that.

[My Name is Immaterial]

To distill my point down to two sentences: A baby can't understand morality, nor can a fetus. Yet there is legislation/rules in the Christian worldview against killing fetuses and babies.

Spoiler: My point in full (click to show/hide)

If a person can't even comprehend right and wrong...

Are they really physically unable to understand the concepts, even from a societal/behavioral standpoint: a "don't do this, or you will be punished" sort of thing.

If a person can't even comprehend right and wrong, can they even be called people?

A baby can't understand morality, nor can a fetus. Yet there is legislation against killing fetuses and babies.

Bonus question 1: Is it morally acceptable to kill psychopaths?

If my original point stands, and the person in question follows the laws of the land, then no. They have done nothing wrong, besides being born or raised a certain way. They must first make a choice to step outside the bounds of morality or the law before they may be punished for it.

Bonus question 2: According to the bible, Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Psychopaths are unable to understand good and evil, so are they non-people from a biblical point of view?

I'm not a theologian or a Christian/Catholic/Jew, but I'm pretty sure that's not how it works. As I understand it, humanity is not discriminatory, it's just granted to everyone desceneded from Adam/Eve. There might be some special cases with stuff like Jesus and the devil's children.

[Xantalos]

Are they sentient/sapient or whatever the proper term is? If so, then yeah they're people by the broadest definition human society has.

[Neonivek]

Besides there are a lot of psychopaths who never kill anyone.

Murderous psychopaths pick up on the subtle hints in our society.

[cerapa]

I'm not scared of a few psychopaths.

I am however very concerned about the folks who believe that being a psychopath is moral grounds for being executed.

[NullForceOmega]

I'm going to be honest here Andres, this is really not an acceptable kind of discussion, and I am sorely tempted to report it.  ALL humans are entitled to life (I do not count the unborn/fetus until it is fully capable of survival outside the womb), and no-one has the right to deprive them of said entitlement without due process.

[Andres]

Understood. Locking thread.