KANT A PHILOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE
WORLD CRISIS Terrorism is a threat that does not recognize borders and may affect states and peoples irrespective of their geographical location.
ISSUE 23 February 2018 $5.99
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"WINNING THE WAR ON TERRORISM WILL ALSO REQUIRE A LEVEL OF MORAL CLARITY THAT CAN PROVIDE A VISION FOR STRUGGLING PEOPLE AND NATIONS EVERYWHERE. " -ADAM SHIFFBY MAYA,YIRI,ANDREA,ANA Terrorism has become a big national and international problem all over the world. It is a global issue which has affected almost all the nations throughout the world directly or indirectly. Terrorism is defined as the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims. It is known that terrorism has been present since Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 CE against the Romans. With this information we can analyze that human beings have always been a species that gets together based on a same ideology which sometimes can be harmful for the rest of the society who’s not part of them, such as terrorists groups.
Without a society that fears about them, the terrorists groups would not exist, because they rely on the reaction they receive from the people they are trying to harm. The main reason why terrorist groups act is due to their ideologies and purposes not being followed by the rest of the society. Nowadays, we can testify incidents of terrorism and violence in most places on earth concluding that violence and terrorism affects anyone that is present at the time and place that an attack takes place. But most specifically, violence is a natural trait that every human being has, it is almost like an instinct.
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Today, travel may or may not be e tourism. The difference is that we demonstrate it in different ways and actions, some more extreme than others. Although, we can be more specific by saying that the most relevant terrorist groups today exist on Middle Asia and its surroundings. The attacks these groups like ISIS perpetuate, are against the rest of the world but mostly against European countries. The cause of the problem can be historical, but it can also have deep political, socioeconomic and religious motivations. Political reasons can be seen as a way of the terrorist group correcting a situation that they think is wrong.
"THE BATTLE AGAINST TERRORISM IS NOT ONLY A MILITARY FIGHT BUT PRIMARILY A BATTLE OF INFORMATION" -AHMED CHALABI-
For example, Catholic and Protestant groups in Northern Ireland carried out violent actions against each other to gain political dominance. On the other hand, there can be terrorist attacks carried out in the name of religion, such as the Japanese doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo that launched attacks with sarin gas in the Tokyo subways in 1994 and 1995. Lastly, socioeconomic factors can drive people to terrorism, like poverty, lack of education and lack of political freedom. In the 1980s, a group carried out terrorist attacks against Peru’s government in an attempt to create a Marxist state.
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Today, travel or may All social sectors are affected when it may comes to not be e tourism. The difference is that we terrorism. If we are talking about the people demonstrate in different ways affected by attacks, everybody has theitsame and actions, some more extreme probability of being in the wrong place at the than others. Although, we can be wrong time, becoming unfortunate victims of a more specific by saying that the terrorist attack. However, most thererelevant is a pattern that terrorist groups can be useful in explaining what social sectorsAsia and its today exist on Middle are more likely to becomesurroundings. radicalized. The Extremely attacks these religious people are more groups likely to likecommit ISIS perpetuate, are againstare thelikely rest oftothe attacks, and war torn countries beworld but mostly against European the recipients as well. The motivations described countries. previously described in this essay are very much The cause of the problem can be related to the social sectors that may be historical, but it can also have influenced by terrorism. Nowadays, terrorist deep political, socioeconomic and groups target largely populated cities that draw religious motivations. Political media attention in order to gain recognition. reasons can be seen as a way of Lately, many important european cities have been the terrorist group correcting a targeted. Even though we situation know this, there no is wrong. that they is think way of knowing who will be affected during a possible terrorist attack.
The world is radically against terrorism. The moral implications that these actions entail create many contradictions. The most important one would be that many religious acts are carried out in the name of religion, while important religious teachings in every culture command man not to harm others. The implications of terrorist violence are unacceptable. Terrorists are example, Catholic and always labelled as badFor and inhuman people. in Northern However, is this alwaysProtestant the case?groups Can someone Ireland carried out violent actions become radicalized against his or her will, having against each other to gain no other choice? Can surrounding circumstances political dominance. On the other have a significant impact onthere the character of a hand, can be terrorist person? If so, terrorismattacks has a wider carriednegative out in the name of range than the consequences attacks, it religion, of such as the and Japanese would also include thedoomsday effects that have cultsocieties Aum Shinrikyo that attacks with sarin on the very perpetrators oflaunched terrorism.
gas in the Tokyo subways in 1994 and 1995. Lastly, socioeconomic factors can drive people to terrorism, like poverty, lack of Bibliography: education and lack of political Oxford Dictionaries. (2018). Terrorism Definition. Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved from: freedom. In the 1980s, a group https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/terrorism. Zalman, A. (2017, September 25). Top Major Causes Motivationsattacks of Terrorism. Retrieved carried outandterrorist February 02, 2018, from https://www.thoughtco.com/the-causes-of-terrorism-3209053. against government inapproach. an Hersch, M. (2016, February 02). Terrorism, HumanPeru’s Rights and Ethics: a modeling Retrieved February 02, 2018, from https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/terrorismattempt to create a Marxist state. human-rights-and-ethics-a-modelling-approach-2167-0358-1000148.php?aid=68000.
BREAKING
NEWS PARIS ATTACKS SUSPECT ABDESLAM, ACCOMPLICE SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN JAIL IN BELGIUM INCREASE IN ONLINE FOLLOWERS
90%
FOUR DEAD IN A CHAIN OF TERRORIST ATTACKS IN FRANCE THE ATTACKER, WHO HAS ENTERED ARMED IN A SUPERMARKET IN TRÈBES AND HAS TAKEN SEVERAL HOSTAGES, HAS BEEN KILLED. THE FRENCH PRESIDENT HAS SAID THAT EVERYTHING INDICATES THAT 'IT IS A TERRORIST ACT'.
SYRIA MISSILE STRIKES: US LAUNCHES FIRST DIRECT MILITARY ACTION AGAINST ASSAD The US military has launched a missile attack on a Syrian airfield in response to Bashar alAssad regime´s , they use chemical weapons making this the first time the US make a direct combatant against the Syrian regime. According to the Syrian officials said that they were seven casualties and nine wounded in US missile attack. The United States hit three targets, including the capital of Damascus, all related to Syria´s chemical programs which had 105 weapons, research center, storage facility, and an equipment facility and commands post. After all this Russia has warned of the possible consequences after the attacks, in which Vladimir Putin call this as an act of aggression that could have a destructive effect on the entire system of international relations. It is clear that this will bring several consequences since the Syrian leader will likely continue to gain power until he fully controls the country, this will give Russia a mayor boost. Washington main goal is to fight ISIS in Syria, which is near defeat. That’s why Trump has put pressure on his national security team to wrap up the fighting against the terrorist group and start withdrawing America’s troops.
TERRORISM AND VIOLENCE
IMMANUEL KANT & ANDRE GLUCKSMANN Terrorism, by definition, is almost absolutely wrong but, not distinctively wrong. This point of view, given by Igor Primoratz, is the exact opposite of a kantian approach to criticizing terrorism. Igor Primoratz is the author of the book Terrorism: A Philosophical Investigation, in which the moral themes of terrorism are thoroughly explored and discussed. He defines terrorism as “the deliberate use of violence, or threat of its use, against innocent people into the aim of intimidating them, or other people, into a course of action they otherwise would not take.” This essay will compare contrasting views on terrorism according to Immanuel Kant and french philosopher André Glucksmann.
The reason or excuse all terrorist attacks have in common is caused by a religious fundament. Religious supremacy is caused when we let our religion govern our thoughts, ideas and actions. According to Kant, this is one of the main causes of religious controversies. Kant establishes that the authority that should govern is the authority of reason, which is human intelligence, not the religious authority. Many thinkers established that human’s moral code is not caused by some supernatural force, Kant thought religion and morality weren't supposed to be linked and the two of them should be separated.
People today classify different things existing in our world as “good or bad”. This according to Kant’s philosophy is completely wrong. The world contains elements that rely on the way we manage them, in other words, it’s not that an element by itself is wrong or right, the purpose or action we give to it is what distinguishes good from bad. These are the bases of Kant’s philosophy on morality. Morality doesn’t mean anything if it is not done with good will.
For Kant terrorism and violence is completely out of the moral command according to the categorical imperative, because it doesn’t matter whether you want to be moral or not, the moral law applies for all of us. Committing acts of terrorism and violence goes against the moral law of humanity according to Kant, it goes beyond whether someone believes if he’s doing the good or not, morality law applies on everyone, so even if you think you’re doing the right thing it’s not about personal thinking, it is about what is already established.
Most terrorist groups happen to have the same excuse for all of their attacks, which is that they are doing it because “it is the right thing to do”. According to Kant’s philosophy this is senseless because of the categorical imperative, which is Kant´s central philosophical concept, these are commands you must follow, regardless your desires and also are moral obligations. Even if you want to go against the moral or with it, the moral law is binding on everyone.
If we analyze all the damages terrorists have made to our society they are people who are doing wrong. But if we think further through trying to understand them in a way, they do not consider their actions wrong. Actually, they are doing those actions because they consider them right according to their criterion.
However, regarding the categorical imperative, terrorism is always wrong, even when the terrorists themselves justify their actions for the sake of religion. A terrorist group will never see themselves as bad people commiting awful crimes, but rather as a group that is allowed to break laws and rules in order to make things right according to religion. This contradicts the very foundations of the categorical imperative, since not killing is a part of the universal moral code that the entire world must adhere to. On the other side, Andre Glucksmann is one of the most important voices because of the contemporary world since he speaks about differents perspectives how terrorism is affecting the international community. Glucksmann says that universal terrorism of today is increasing into these devastating proportions since is not born of this or that war, of this or that conflict, the real danger is to give panic and hide the harsh reality of their challenges with no borders. And if this internacional plague is not curbed since everyone poor or rich, will end up executed in some way. A clear example of this situation was the destruction of the “Twin Towers” which was the representation of a new type of terrorism. Glucksmann explains that is the nihilistic terrorism which means that the indiscriminate murder of civilians justifies the terrorist act itself, and with these it tries to terrify the international community. That’s why now we are facing wars without battles in which the main target is not the army of the adversary but the population which represent “the unity and the morals of the citizens that the reason the main attacks are directed against symbolic objectives. Thus, nihilism becomes a determining factor of consolidation of terrorism, which Glucksmann consider devoid of reason, claim and justification.
Terrorism acts by themselves, it has no boundaries, in this situation the nihilist everything is worth it leads to the total liberation from the terror that the traditional wars tried to contain. All of the above has been added to the nihilistic sense, and Gluckmann claims that this has created a new meaning that is “kill then I exist”, from the gloomy pleasure for murder and homicide; which shows the risk of the new terrorist threat. The society extermination is no longer in the hands of the great powers but in any group terrorist and the most serious, alert the French philosopher, is that it can be repeated. At the end we can say that Gluckmann philosophy establish that there is a clear relationship between terrorism and nihilism that why it is essential in order to fight it if we want to eradicate it. In order to state a conclusion, we must compare both the ideologies of Kant and Glucksmann. According to Kant, it is completely unjustifiable. One must not kill, and that applies to every single human being that lives on earth.
"A SOCIETY THAT IS NOT WILLING TO DEMAND A LIFE OF SOMEBODY WHO HAS TAKEN SOMEBODY ELSE´S LIFE IS SIMPLE IMMORAL" According to Kant, all people have intrinsic value and should not be treated as a mere means to the end. With terrorism, people are being harmed as a means in order to make a statement mainly to the government's where the terrorism is taking place. Also Kant theorizes that all moral rights are universal and that the sanctity of life which terrorism would violate due to the loss of life would be a violation. Glucksmann, on the other hand, states that terrorism is a nihilist act by nature. There is a great recurrence of relativity in Glucksmann ideals, since he states that every terrorist has different reasons for doing what they do. Muslims might justify killing little children as a means of saving them, arguing that there is no moral code that applies to everyone and that every person or culture has a different definition to it. The inner nature of nihilistic terrorism is that everything is permissible, whether because God exists and terrorists are his representative, or because God does not exist and terrorists take his place, therefore stating that ethics and moral principles are relative to the author of the acts themselves, and contrasting greatly to Kant’s ideals and the Categorical Imperative. In conclusion, terrorism is a situation that has been part of the development of our human history, therefore, it implies some uncertainties and controversies that may lead to chaos among the different societies. At the end of the day, it is part of our human nature to think differently, have different points of view and perform different actions, and those are the reasons of our diversity.
IThe differences surrounding us do not have the right to lead our judgement about other people. That is the case of extremist terrorist groups, their main intention is to make the whole world to act and have the same beliefs as they do, but that is not the right thing to do because it goes against the laws of diversity of our society.
BIBLIOGRAPHY :Wiley-Blackwell. (2008). “Journal of Applied Philosophy”. Glucksmann Andre (2007) “Nihilismo como factor beligeno” . Dario exterior (18 de marzo del 2016) “El discurso del odio convierte al terrorismo en furia nihilista”.
INTERVIEW Elizabeth García Interviewee: Elizabeth García 4th semester Philosophy student (UDLA) Interviewer: Mariana Coria High School student at the Tecnológico de Monterrey Campus Puebla What do you know about Immanuel Kant? Immanuel Kant was a European philosopher from the late 1800 and early 1900 that is central to modern philosophy. He purposed from the idea of categorical imperative and he pretty much restated the fact that you should do one to others what you want to be done to you, but he detached this from religion. We know that he re-established many concepts such as religion, God, liberty etc. But what is your own concept of liberty? For me liberty means having the ability to do what you want whenever you want and however you want to do it without having restrictions by not damaging the integrity of other individuals. And do you consider that the government is responsible for the fact that society is not free? No, I don’t believe that the government is responsible for the fact that society is not free, because I think that without even the government given, people put limitations to what they can and cannot do which hinders their freedom.
Now, moving up to other concept Kant analyzed, do you believe in God? Why? I do believe in God because I have faith in the fact that there is a savior and a creator. Do you think religion is necessary for people to be happy? I don’t consider religion to be necessary for people to be happy because I think that there’s other ways in which people can fulfill their happiness such as width love, compassion with empathy etc. Here’s one of Kant’s famous frases :“Rules for happiness: something to do, someone to love, something to hope for” what do you think about it? Regarding the previous question, however I do believe that something to do, someone to love and something to hope for is a pretty good rule for happiness because that to be followed, you’ll always be trying to fulfill something in life and you’ll have a purpose. Lastly, to close this interview, France is considered the mother of liberty, do you think philosophy has to do something with it? I believe that yes, the philosophical ideas that arose during the enlightenment in France have certainly helped it being considered the mother country of liberty. The fact that they all originated there and then spread out to the rest of Europe and then to the America, Africa and Asia was what made France to be considered the mother of liberty.
REVIEW
EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE. BY STEPHEN DALDRY One of the most relevant acts of terrorism in the current century was 9/11. As one of the few acts of terrorism aimed at a first world country at the time, it was met with horror and pain in all countries of the world. The movie Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is one of the few films that have revisited this topic, since its impact on the world was so unspeakable that many films and series were reluctant to involve it in its storylines, resulting in many documentaries but few actual movies about the topic. Released many years after the event, the movie still managed to evoke sentimentality and tragedy not only in its home country, but all over the world. As a story that follows the life of a young boy after his father is killed in the 9/11 incident, this movie follows a search for meaning for death and terrorism that is rarely found in real life. Starring Thomas Horn as Oskar Schell, along with Sandra Bullock playing his mother, Oskar embarks on an adventure after he finds a key that his defunct father left behind with the written word “black”. Oskar is convinced that this key holds something important that his father left for him to find, as they were always fond of scavenger hunts. Oskar then visits all of the 472 people with the last name Black that he could find in the phone book and encounters different personalities and stories behind these people as he searches for meaning in death. This movie is a perfect representation of how a country deals with terrorism, and the pain and suffering that comes with it. After such a traumatic event, people tend to search for meaning, and reasons for the dreadful event. This is represented as Oskar’s desperate search for his father’s legacy and his discoveries during the search, where most people he visited welcomed him with warmth and curiosity rather than hostility, an attitude that reflects itself when people suffer unimaginable grief, and therefore portray victims as saints and heroes. Philosophically, finding meaning in such an event is detrimental for its understanding. By compiling cultural, political and social factors into consideration, society can create reasons and causes for itself to try to understand what happened. Often, such an event causes a sense of unity and closeness in a society, as well as a sense of national identity, and it is very clearly portrayed in the film. Oskar needs a legacy from his father, as well as he needs to understand why his father had to die that way, and why fate had chosen him. As a conclusion, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a perfect example of how a culture deals with terrorism. The fact that it was released much later than it happened, and how the character searches for meaning along with society truly represents a considerable social trend towards looking for reason after such an event that disrupts their peace and security. The movie doesn’t necessarily reach a satisfying conclusion, but it teaches us that coping with life often comes with an impossible to satisfy curiosity about the underlying reasons and intentions of fate, this time reflecting this with the collapse of the World Trade Center in September, 2001.
QUESTIONS
FROM READERS..... Why do terrorist commit terrorism? People that commit acts of terrorism are motivated by a number of factors, such as their ideology, for terrorist the need to attach themselves to an ideology or organization that gives them a sense of purpose. Nevertheless each case and motivation is different, even if for some following an ideology makes them feel part of something, there are other cases which these people try to become their own heroes through attacks. Bergan gives some examples of the different motivations that lead a person to commit a terrorist attack. Human motivations are complex. As the philosopher Immanuel Kant observed, “From the crooked timber of humanity not a straight thing was ever made.”
What do terrorist want? Terrorism is classified as a tacit or an strategy used to achieve an specific goal. The difference between each group is that not all terrorists act on behalf of the same purpose cause they´re not all after the same thing. Terrorist often justify their actions by defending themselves with political, economical or social problems, but mainly terrorist make bloody attacks harming innocent people in most cases as a consequence of their religion ideologies. There are many terrorist groups which actions are inspired by a specific interpretation of religious or prophetic scriptures. Al-Qaida and IS are two related groups that justify their violent actions as part of protesting against nonbelievers and defending their ideology. Basically each terrorist group can attack in different ways cause each revolve around what they want to achieve.
Bibliography:(2017). “What is terrorism?”. The Conversation. Retrieved from http://theconversation.com/what-is-terrorism-what-doterrorists-want-78228