Roger Scruton Quotes
It is possible to fight a war with undiminished respect for the rights of the enemy individual. Indeed, that is the duty of every soldier. But the terrorist must disregard this duty and disobey the law of war. His feelings towards the individual are abolished by his loathing of the group, and it is this—rather than his cowardice, cruelty, or intemperate hate—that constitutes his true moral corruption.
Roger Scruton, English Philosopher & Founder of the Conservative Philosophy Group, “Waging War on the Individual,” Untimely Tracts, 1987
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In the American democracy the tradeoff between military activity and respect for human rights has always been an issue.
At the time most of the terrorists of the world were Muslim fundamentalists whose “values” they were supposedly fighting for included the suppression and repression of women.
Campbell carried out the order although many MacDonalds escaped in the highlands. The particular massacre has always taken on an even greater infamy because the Campbell murderers had been given food and hospitality by the MacDonalds. This began the most bitter of the Scottish clan feuds that persists into modern times.
Jean the Good. It was not uncommon for wealthy nobles who were about to be defeated on the field of battle to offer bribes to the opposition soldiers to take them to their lines or headquarters. However, the leaders of the Army wanted to have charge of the important prisoners and the terms of their potential ransom. In this case the English knights started fighting amongst themselves as to who would take and ransom the French King, when two high ranking English nobles who had been dispatched by the Prince of Wales to look for the French King. They ordered the knights to desist their internal fighting, and the French King was delivered to the Prince of Wales.
Mahathir, in his moral assessment, fails to come to grips with the fact that the Coalition forces in their Afghan and Iraq activities attempt to kill and injure as few people as possible to accomplish their objective. The terrorists attempt to kill and injure as many people as possible. In the September 11 attack, the buildings could have been attacked late at night so there would be few casualties, and in Bali they could have bombed the facility after it had closed instead of waiting until there was the largest audience. And the terrorist bombs include nails, rat poison, and other additional material designed not to do more building damage, but to kill and maim more people which is their specific objective. Most wars have collateral damage and the parties are required to make a good faith attempt to minimize that. But the terrorists not only make no attempt, but make strong efforts to kill as many as possible. That is a huge moral and ethical distinction.
The early laws regarding slaves were more protective in earlier Colonial America than they were after independence. In Colonial America all local laws and the enforcement thereof were subject to the government and king of England. When the Constitution was passed with the understanding that Slavery issue was not to be even discussed in Congress, there was NO OUTSIDE ENTITY to check any laws or lack of laws or the enforcement thereof. The Southern States were a law unto themselves on the slavery issue and the system became even more brutal and cruel with no moderating force. When such a force seemed close with the Republican 1860 victory, the South seceded. Then war was the moderating force.
5th Earl of Rosebery
Sir Roger Vernon Scruton FBA FRSL was an English philosopher and writer who specialised in aesthetics and political philosophy. Scruton wrote over 50 books on philosophy, art, music, politics, literature, culture, sexuality, and religion; he also wrote novels and two operas. He was a regular contributor to the popular media, including The Times, The Spectator, and the New Statesman. Scruton was knighted in the 2016 Birthday Honours for "services to philosophy, teaching and public education".
