Soldier killing dying soldier

[ChrissyG333]

Thank you for your replies. It was very enlightening. After listening to many interviews of veterans, there were a few that had spoken of putting their comrades out of their misery. I was confused as they came across as doing a good thing. They often had to make moral and ethical decisions quickly and often sleep deprived. But I understand it is better to comfort the dying than to hasten their death. Thank you to all those who served.

 

[Montrose]

Is it a sin to kill one of your own soldiers if his wounds are beyond saving and he will die slowly on the battlefield?

Yes. I would not even call that euthanasia. I would call that murder.

 

[BornInMarch]

If it’s just to ease the soldier’s dying then it’s a sin, but the soldier who preforms the “mercy killing” might have reduced culpability if their judgement is clouded by stress and panic.

If it’s because you’re hiding from an enemy and the injured soldier is screaming loud enough to draw your attention then it’s not a sin because it’s self-defense. Whether he means to or not the injured soldier’s screams endanger your life.

 

[BornInMarch]

On this topic, would it be a sin to induce unconsciousness in a mortally injured soldier so he can’t feel the pain? Technically that’s not killing him or speeding up his death.

 

[Montrose]

If it’s just to ease the soldier’s dying then it’s a sin, but the soldier who preforms the “mercy killing” might have reduced culpability if their judgement is clouded by stress and panic.

If it’s because you’re hiding from an enemy and the injured soldier is screaming loud enough to draw your attention then it’s not a sin because it’s self-defense. Whether he means to or not the injured soldier’s screams endanger your life.

It’s a sin in both your examples.
Every single soldier in battle could claim stress and panic and I don’t believe that. It is NOT a mercy killing.
Your second example is absolutely NOT self defence.

In both case it’s a sin and also murder.

 

[o_mlly]

If it’s just to ease the soldier’s dying then it’s a sin, but the soldier who preforms the “mercy killing” might have reduced culpability if their judgement is clouded by stress and panic.

True, the criteria for determining culpability are different than the criteria for determining the morality of the act. However, the act of euthanasia remains intrinsically evil.

If it’s because you’re hiding from an enemy and the injured soldier is screaming loud enough to draw your attention then it’s not a sin because it’s self-defense. Whether he means to or not the injured soldier’s screams endanger your life.

There are no circumstances or good intentions that can make an intrinsically evil act other than what it is – evil.

Imagine a society that thought otherwise. A person infected with Covid-19 threatens the lives of some others e.g., the elderly with underlying conditions. May they kill that sick one to protect themselves from danger? No.

 

[BornInMarch]

Your second example is absolutely NOT self defence.

Why not? If you’re trying to hide from an enemy who wants to kill you, and this guy is drawing the enemy’s attention to you with his screaming and flailing, then his actions will result in your death if allowed to continue. “Do nothing and let him draw the enemy’s fire” can’t be the morally correct decision.

 

[BornInMarch]

True, the criteria for determining culpability are different than the criteria for determining the morality of the act. However, the act of euthanasia remains intrinsically evil.

Fair point.

There are no circumstances or good intentions that can make an intrinsically evil act other than what it is – evil.

Maybe, but in this case the base act is killing. Killing a person is not intrinsically evil but rather it’s morality depends on the surrounding details - for example, killing in self defense is morally justified, and killing in defense of an innocent is a moral duty.

The question here is whether killing someone who is acting in a way that will cause your death qualifies murder or as a self-defense killing?

Imagine a society that thought otherwise. A person infected with Covid-19 threatens the lives of some others e.g., the elderly with underlying conditions. May they kill that sick one to protect themselves from danger? No.

Actually, if a person infected with covid intentionally tries to infect others with the disease then it’s legally classified as attempted murder.

 

[o_mlly]

Killing a person is not intrinsically evil but rather it’s morality depends on the surrounding details

Yes, but the circumstances of the this case make this act an evil act.

CCC#2258 … no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being.

Actually, if a person infected with covid intentionally tries to infect others with the disease then it’s legally classified as attempted murder.

The example offered was intended to parallel the direct killing of an innocent one, i.e., the wounded soldier.

A person infected with Covid-19 passively threatens the lives of some others e.g., the elderly with underlying conditions. May they kill that sick one to protect themselves from danger? No.

 

[Montrose]

Why not? If you’re trying to hide from an enemy who wants to kill you, and this guy is drawing the enemy’s attention to you with his screaming and flailing, then his actions will result in your death if allowed to continue. “Do nothing and let him draw the enemy’s fire” can’t be the morally correct decision.

Absolute rubbish. You have no clue what self defence is!