John Locke and Terrorism :: Philosophy of Terrorism Essays

In 1689, A Letter Concerning Toleration, written by John Locke during his self-imposed exile to his friend Philip von Limborch, was published without the authors knowledge. The Letter bear on religious intolerance. It essentially made the case for religious toleration on the basis of philosophical principles. Locke was concerned with the pronounces toleration of those not subscribing to the orthodox organized religion of the day and, by putting a high value on the preservation of negative liberty, he proposed the toleration of a wide rank of religious beliefs. His expression was at odds with the existing view of the State which, at that time tolerated one, and only one, orthodox belief. barely Lockes Letter is not simply applicable to just the 17th Century. The strength and reasonableness of his arguments mean value that, even today, they are convincing. I intend to show that The Letter hobo reasonably be interpreted to reveal how at least ii of Lockes tether arguments can ap ply to the religious fundamentalists who attacked the Twin Towers on phratry 11th 2001. The perpetrators of that violent incident probably believed the Quran supported the view that, to die whilst killing infidels would punish the wrongdoers and also ensure entry to paradise. But James Rachel in his essay, Ethics and the Bible, has a differing view Islamic fundamentalists excerpt the Quran to justify Holy War against the West, but what does the Quran very say? Mohammed Atta, who led the September 11th attack on the macrocosm Trade Centre, left behind four pages of instructions to his men, which included 21 quotations from the Quran. Most of the quotations were exhortations to patience, promises of eternal life, and the like. As for justifying the attack itself, here are the three most belligerent passages And the only thing they Lord, for knock over our sins and excesses and make our feet potent and give us victory over the infidels. Strike above the neck, and strike at all the ir extremities. Oh Lord, pour your patience upon us and make our feet steadfast and give us victory over the infidels. He also added It is remarkable that this was the scoop out the terrorist could do a Christian would have no trouble producing ofttimes more warlike passages from the Old Testament ThinkIssue One, p. 95 Radical Moslems would be well advised to pause and reflect upon their fundamentalist views which, besides cosmos irrational, are reductio ad absurdum.