A pre-emptive war in 'defense' of freedom would surely destroy freedom, because one simply cannot engage in barbarous action without becoming a barbarian, because one cannot defend human values by calculated and unprovoked violence without doing mortal damage to the values one is trying to defend. (p. 154)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Violent means to defend values ultimately corrupt and destroy those same values.
- In plain terms
- Using violence to defend freedom destroys freedom.
- What can you take from it?
- Avoid violence to preserve the values you claim to defend.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can you defend freedom violently?
- Do ends justify means?
Another view
It may ignore scenarios where force is the only immediate option.
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