[And though he can't claim to have proof beyond a shadow of a doubt, he's certain that this person, whosoever they may be, is at least somewhat acquainted with his home.
But rather than elaborate, I shall reply in the spirit of debate.
Purely in the technical sense, man does not decide what does and does not decide what can be considered "alive." Any creature whose construction abides by the laws of nature and possesses a soul is considered a living being, whereas those that do not contain one are not. They are instead arcane entities.
However, the technicalities of life don't always take into account the closeness that one can come to feel for another, soul or no. The loss of a familiar can come with the same sadness one might feel for the loss of a friend.
If the hypothetical individual you refer to were to snuff out the lives of all those before him for naught but his own gain, then I would agree with you--that comes quite close to the vision I have of what a murderer might be. But if the goal is to keep another safe--a companion, for instance, or another species that may be wiped from existence should a creation persist on its current path...
Tis a regrettable choice, but a necessary one, I think. And if that act of preservation is an act of murder... that I cannot say.
no subject
[And though he can't claim to have proof beyond a shadow of a doubt, he's certain that this person, whosoever they may be, is at least somewhat acquainted with his home.
But rather than elaborate, I shall reply in the spirit of debate.
Purely in the technical sense, man does not decide what does and does not decide what can be considered "alive." Any creature whose construction abides by the laws of nature and possesses a soul is considered a living being, whereas those that do not contain one are not. They are instead arcane entities.
However, the technicalities of life don't always take into account the closeness that one can come to feel for another, soul or no. The loss of a familiar can come with the same sadness one might feel for the loss of a friend.
If the hypothetical individual you refer to were to snuff out the lives of all those before him for naught but his own gain, then I would agree with you--that comes quite close to the vision I have of what a murderer might be. But if the goal is to keep another safe--a companion, for instance, or another species that may be wiped from existence should a creation persist on its current path...
Tis a regrettable choice, but a necessary one, I think. And if that act of preservation is an act of murder... that I cannot say.