[HPforGrownups] Re: Bang! You're Dead.

[Robert Shaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 86061

Kathryn Cawte wrote:
> Robert
>> And if Voldemort should escape, Harry gets to feel guilty about
>> all the resulting deaths, even though those deaths wouldn't really
>> be his fault.
>> 
> 
> That's illogical. He'll feel guilty for Voldemort killing people so
> he'll murder him instead - you don't think he might feel a tad bit
> *more* guilty? 
> 
Surely one death is less bothersome than one hundred.

Harry will feel guilty either way, but killing Voldemort will
benefit more people.

Kat wrote
> 
> Robert
>> You'd seem to agree that killing Voldemort is necessary so,
>> if Harry is indeed the only the only one who can kill him, his
>> killing Voldemort becomes necessary.
>> 

> Within the story I do not agree that 'executing' Voldemort is
> necessary. If Harry kills him in self defence or defence of another
> or while apprehending him or accidentally that is necessary.

Killing Voldemort is automatically both self-defence and protection
of others.

Given the prophecy, the only alternative is to let Voldemort continue
with his evil plans, which include killing Harry and many others.

Self-defence doesn't mean only reacting, it also allow for
pre-emptive action to ward off inevitable threats.

> 
> 
>> The key differences are that Harry would know he had
>> done wrong, that he would always regret the necessity, and
>> that he would not let it set a precedent for his future actions.
>> 
> K
> 
> I'm not keen on the justification that 'well I know it's wrong but
> never mind I'll feel *really* guilty about it later'
> 
Of course. If you, or Harry, were happy about it, it would be
too easy for you to repeat your misdeeds later.

If Harry thought feeling guilty afterwards would be enough,
he'd be wrong, but as long as he doesn't think that way
feeling guilty will be enough.

It's the diffference between looking at the moral maze
from above, and from the inside.

More generally, sometimes there are no good choices, only 
lesser evils, and failing to choose is itself a choice.

Moral codes that can't cope with such dilemmas might work
in a community of saints but are not robust enough for real life.

-- 
Robert