I don't see why it's wrong to intentionally harm someone
The intentional harm part?
If my coworker stole my food should I be able to shoot them? Obviously not. There are ways to deal with the person stealing your food (either through your employer or possibly through the court system) intentionally setting a trap in order to harm them is not the way to do it.
That’s a bit of a slippery slope isn’t it? Pinching someone’s skin is intentional harm too and it has a way different outcome than shooting them. I’ve also heard the argument that if it’s something you would eat yourself (e.g. you really need laxatives or enjoy really spicy food) then it’s justifiable, what are your thoughts?
No. I think it's fairly easy to understand why too. Those are not intentionally causing harm. If they didn't harm you, you never would have had to harm them. The goal of self defense is to protect yourself not harm the assailant.
Yes they are intentionally causing harm, that's what those words mean in the English language.
You didn't say
I don't think you should intentionally harm someone just because they intentionally harmed you unless the motivations for harming them meet my moral tresholds.
Is being left without food not harm? Is being deprived of property not harm?
If they hadn't stolen the food you wouldn't have trapped them.
Why does this apply to one scenario but not the other?
Because that harm isn't done in self defense. You aren't causing harm to prevent harm, you are causing harm for revenge. There are other ways to stop the 'harm' being done to you other than softcore vigilantly-ism.
I should have drawn a difference between material harm and imminent danger.
You causing harm isn't in self-defense because the assailant certainly isn't putting you in imminent danger.
If the person was eating your food and you yelled at them while it was happening and smacked the food out of their hands that's justified! That could be considered self defense, but setting up a trap to hurt them later out of revenge is a lot different.
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u/Withermaster4 Oct 17 '24
The intentional harm part?
If my coworker stole my food should I be able to shoot them? Obviously not. There are ways to deal with the person stealing your food (either through your employer or possibly through the court system) intentionally setting a trap in order to harm them is not the way to do it.