Academic

BRIAN LEITER ON BUDGET CUTS: ?At some point these acts of brazen viciousness are going to lead to a?

By Glenn Reynolds

BRIAN LEITER ON BUDGET CUTS: “At some point these acts of brazen viciousness are going to lead to a renewed philosophical interest in the question of when acts of political violence are morally justified.” This whole “new civility” business just isn’t working out as promised. On the other hand, it is working out pretty much as expected. . . .

UPDATE: Eugene Volokh comments: “Now I should say that I?m all in favor of ‘philosophical interest in the question of when acts of political violence are morally justified’; it is a subject of enduring moral and philosophical significance, and without question sometimes such acts are justified against some governments. My sense from Prof. Leiter?s post, though, is that he is hinting at more than just a philosophical inquiry ? though perhaps I?m mistaken.” Perhaps.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Reader Paul Stinchfield sends this quote: “The left claims that the guilty party in a conflict is not the one who covets another?s goods but the one who defends his own.”

MORE: Ann Althouse: “How quickly the lefty mind turns toward violence! . . . Here, I’ll help you get your fancy-schmancy, high-tone philosophy seminar started: Acts of political violence are justified to get what you want.” That’s my prediction of how it will go, too.

Full post as published by Instapundit.com on March 11, 2011 (boomark / email).