Is intentionally killing a person when they don't threaten anyone always wrong?

[Guaranteed]

Poll question: Is intentionally killing a person when they don't threaten anyone always wrong?

Different version of the other poll. Disregarding mercy killings.

[Ravenseye]

1. You yourself admit exceptions

Are you seriously asking "is it ok to kill someone, except when it's not ok?"

I can think of a few different exceptions, besides mercy killings.

My entire family is held prisoner in a room by Saddam Hussein's thugs. They give me a gun. I have to shoot one of my own family members or they'll kill all my children. After struggling mentally and emotionally, I shoot my Uncle. They release my six daughters and wife. Was that wrong?

[Guaranteed]

3. Yes. That was wrong.

You compromised your integrity and became a murderer at the behest of another.

[Ravenseye]

5. Ah but...

...if I hadn't and they had killed my wife and daughters, wouldn't I also have been complicit in that?

Or is the only 'correct' thing to do to stoically watch your young prepubescent daughters raped and murdered in front of you, then your wife, knowing that you did the right thing by not killing your 80 year old Uncle, who was saying "it's ok habibi. shoot me"?

[Guaranteed]

6. No, you can fight them directly.

Even if you 100% know that they will kill/rape your family if you don't kill your uncle, it doesn't justify your doing it. If killing your uncle would be justified, on your part, moral responsibility would be blurred between people. The people holding your family hostage would end up having actually killed no one, but, supposedly (in your mind), take the blame for an act you committed which you knew to be wrong? And all they had to do was pressure you to do it.

Morality like that lends itself to abuses. I can see that you're a utilitarian. But I believe that moral actions require integrity. You can't allow yourself to pushed into doing something that is so wrong out of fear.

[Nikki Stone1]

2. Are there too many badly thought out polls on DU?

I don't find this terribly helpful.

[Guaranteed]

4. I edited to make it a little clearer. nt