“All right! We can lie without simply following the rule “It is permissible to lie“ and instead, follow a rule that pertains only to specific circumstances, like “It is permissible to lie when doing so will save a life, and thus such a rule can be made a universal law without contradiction, don’t you see? No?”
From Russia comes this story:
“A “passionate argument” about 18th-century Enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant, renowned for his treatises on ethics, “deteriorated into a fistfight” between two men waiting in line for beer during an outdoor City Day event in the southern Russian metropolis of Rostov-on-Don, police said Monday. The argument ended when one of the debaters pulled out an air gun and shot the other in the head, local police said in a statement. The shooter then fled the scene but was later detained, police said. The other man’s wound was not critical, but he was hospitalized, the statement said…”
I am fairly certain that Kant would have said that shooting someone in the head with an air gun to settle a debate over ethics violates his Rule of Universality, which has the seldom-cited codicil, “Don’t shoot people in the head, unless you want to live in a world where everyone gets shot in the head.” It is a perfect example of losing an argument by winning an argument.
And you thought the ethics debates got heated on Ethics Alarms!
________________
Pointer: Volokh Conspiracy
Ethics Alarms 
Or, as another philosopher put it; Might makes right!
Who cares what Kant would have thought! The fact that Russians in Rostov-on-Don (Don is a river) is interesting, especially in light of the fact that I estimate that 99% of ignorant Americans don’t even know who Immanuel Kant was.
Not many people take a philosophy course in college. I didn’t. Kant, Goethe… Aristotle! Personally, I consider it more important that I knew that Rostov was on the Don River and the Black Sea. Besides, Russians have historically shot each other over the weirdest of things.
Only 1% of the Americans-of-Ignorant-ancestry know who Kant is? What is amazing is that 30% of non-Ignorant Americans know that Immanuel Kant was a real piss ant who was very rarely stable.
How often are philosophers stable? Goes with the territory. Those Big Questions drive you nuts, man!
Now give me a real name and e-mail address, or you don’t get back here.
Same goes with great artists of all types it seems….
The complete song….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_WRFJwGsbY
I admit I think knowing ethic principals is more important than the name of the originator. I figure they’d be more happy I agree with them centuries later than remember their name but get it wrong.
First one to pull a pun misses their target argument, or was that a gun? 😉
No doubt Kant would have a huge chuckle over that. Or, more likely, a huge groan, given his Germanic origins.
“I am fairly certain that Kant would have said that shooting someone in the head with an air gun to settle a debate over ethics violates his Rule of Universality,”
In Russia, Rule of Universality violates you.
Thats gonna crack me up all afternoon
Does this story remind anyone else of the Simpsons episode where Barney and Wade Boggs got in an argument at Mo’s Bar over who was Britain’s greatest PM? (“PALMERSTON!” “PITT THE ELDER!!!)
Reminds me of a sign in front of a lawyer’s office… Presecutors will be Violated…lol
Excellent quip, Tex!
Like Jeremy, that will keep me laughing over and over.
Closest I could come to that is:
In Russia, Kant can, but only when he’s TOLD to.
I’m good for a funny line or two on occasion. My mostly dry sense f humor however is probably more apt for a comedy circuit catering to philosophers. Although I’d hate doing a show for stoics… It’s impossible to get them to laugh.
Ok. I’m done.
Agreed on that Simpsons clip being apropos; I just totally swiped that idea from you and posted the clip on Facebook.
I love whoever wrote the AP report for this closing line: “It was not clear which of Kant’s ideas may have triggered the violence.”
Also, best tweet I’ve seen so far: “If an argument over Kant doesn’t end in gunplay, friends, it was really just a chat.”
An AIR gun?