Philosophy Discussion Forums

It seems everyone always agrees that murder is wrong. So, why do people do it? Why do people commit murder?

"Why do people commit murder?" -- not really a philosophical question. This is more to do with psychology; the only pertinent question for philosophers is why we ought or ought not murder.

The basic answer is: we ought not murder because we expect others not to do what they would not want done to them.

I agree with you there. Murder is based on a psychological factor, and so philosophers don't really understand why people commit murder. Most murder is linked to a long term anger that no one can seem to diminish. Other murders may be caused by
psychosis and extreme paranoia.

I guess you guys are right. Hmmm....

It's something psychologists can't even answer!

MyshiningOne wrote:It's something psychologists can't even answer!

Some have explained some reasons why people murder. Like sociopaths.

Those people can be quite scary!

For one, I think clarification of terminology is in order. To murder implies that someone was killed incorrectly, for instance rape is forcible sex. these terms have loaded meanings. Now to answer the question, "Why do people kill?" I'd say yes there are physiological factors (MRIs of the brains of serial killers for instance) and there are environmental factors at play as well. Hell sometimes people kill because they are in the wrong state of mind (drunk) or just happen to find a victim of opportunity. I would say narrow down the question to something like, "Is killing in the name of war wrong?"

Murder is the use of violent force in order to take away one's life (with it their right to life).

As for why people murder? To me, there is a psychological and philosophical answer.

Psychologically, you would have to look at how this person was developed, what kind of environment they are in, what their behavior is towards life in general, etc. Most murders are not pre-meditated murders, I believe. Most of them are murders of passion which involves a temporary break of rationality into complete and absurd irrationality. Pre-Meditated murders are done by those who obviously have never had an ounce or rationality, self-respect, self-esteem, ect. This ranges from just a single murder, to serial murders, to mass murders. There's always some self-esteem issue involved and some sort of inability to think properly (though they can come off as quite logical and intelligent). However, in serial killers and mass murderers there seems to always seem some sort of mental disorder (but not necessarily insanity). Nonetheless, most murderers who have done it pre-meditatedly have always had a self-esteem, self-respect issue that developed at a young age and continued onward. (You can see examples of that in some of the notorious serial killers.) I would say, then, it's probably a mixture is irrationality, self-esteem issues, and a mental disorder that always causes them to murder (minus the murderers who do it by passion, by brute force, or by stupidity).

The Philosophical issue comes to the front of their morality and their personal value system. The main issue is that they do not recognize neither for themselves and what they kill for isn't as much of a value as it is trying to give them a justufication to kill someone. Even this philosophical issue can lead people to the low self-esteem issues.

Of course, it is more of a psychological thing, philosophy does play a role.

There is no one reason why people commit murder. People kill people because they can. Pre-meditated and moments of intense passion are driven by the individual experience of the killer.

selfless wrote:There is no one reason why people commit murder. People kill people because they can. Pre-meditated and moments of intense passion are driven by the individual experience of the killer.

There are plenty of reasons why people commit murder...they will always tell you why...or that they're too clouded by emotion to know why. Either way, the action has a reason...though maybe a reason based on insanity or ect...Every action has a reason to it...Most murders are not just on whim though they may seem that way.

Sometimes people value what they get out murdering someone more than they value the life of the person they murder. They think the benefits of murdering someone is worth the consequences.

cynicallyinsane wrote:It seems everyone always agrees that murder is wrong. So, why do people do it? Why do people commit murder?

I don't think murder is wrong it's just inconvenient for people to die when they don't plan on it so they made laws to persecute the people who take other's lives. Also, hedonism, if you want to murder and like murdering you should be able to do it freely. Plus it's a biological program in all animals to kill those who are ahead of them or in their way, it's the law of competition.

anarchyisbliss wrote:

cynicallyinsane wrote:It seems everyone always agrees that murder is wrong. So, why do people do it? Why do people commit murder?

I don't think murder is wrong it's just inconvenient for people to die when they don't plan on it so they made laws to persecute the people who take other's lives. Also, hedonism, if you want to murder and like murdering you should be able to do it freely. Plus it's a biological program in all animals to kill those who are ahead of them or in their way, it's the law of competition.

I like your way of thinking, NOW if you could just put this jelly bean on your head I'm going to shoot it off.

Samhains wrote:

anarchyisbliss wrote: I don't think murder is wrong it's just inconvenient for people to die when they don't plan on it so they made laws to persecute the people who take other's lives. Also, hedonism, if you want to murder and like murdering you should be able to do it freely. Plus it's a biological program in all animals to kill those who are ahead of them or in their way, it's the law of competition.

I like your way of thinking, NOW if you could just put this jelly bean on your head I'm going to shoot it off.

Sarcasm noted, nice one