Extremists. Which ones are the worst etc

[Secret Chief]

You might be conflating 'extremist' with 'violent extremist' though?
Or is part of your definition of 'extremist' that they are violent?

(Honest question)

I suppose I do take the word extremist to imply violent (overt or possible). Suicide bombers are never described as moderates. I certainly wouldn't consider pacifism to be extremist. It might be a minority view but I would not consider it extremist per se. (I consider my view to be of non-violence, not pacifism).

 

[Stevicus]

You might be conflating 'extremist' with 'violent extremist' though?
Or is part of your definition of 'extremist' that they are violent?

(Honest question)

I suppose I do take the word extremist to imply violent (overt or possible). Suicide bombers are never described as moderates. I certainly wouldn't consider pacifism to be extremist. It might be a minority view but I would not consider it extremist per se. (I consider my view to be of non-violence, not pacifism).

I suppose this might open up another question as to whether violence, in and of itself, could be considered "extremist."

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

I suppose this might open up another question as to whether violence, in and of itself, could be considered "extremist."

Well, physical force versus violence as killing versus murder.
As I see it, it depends on if I describe or evaluate violence as for being just so or bad.

 

[icehorse]

Got any news stories of such people carrying out violent extremist acts? Suicide bombers maybe?

Please explain all the recent one-sided campus riots.

 

[icehorse]

Postmodernism and Marxism generally have some fundamental and sometimes irreconcilable differences, so it's quite difficult for someone to be both.

In case anyone is curious where that bit of oxymoronic alarmism came from, though: It's a phrase that Jordan Peterson has thrown around on many occasions while smearing and misrepresenting people he disagrees with. Googling "postmodern neo-Marxism" should return many hits associated with arguments both from Jordan Peterson and critics of his misuse of the term.

It strikes me that JP came off the rails years ago. That said, he's not stupid and you should not underestimate him.

As for ties between marxism and the woke, here are two points of overlap, just off the top of my head:

- the idea that the world should be divided between "oppressed" and "oppressor"
- the idea that we should use "critical theory" to help us form policy

 

[Stevicus]

Well, physical force versus violence as killing versus murder.
As I see it, it depends on if I describe or evaluate violence as for being just so or bad.

For the sake of argument, I would discount self-defense. Obviously, if someone's trying to kill someone, they have a right to fight back and defend themselves.

But what about in other situations, like being at war and you want to bomb an enemy truck factory or something like that? You might kill innocent civilians, but would that be considered extremist? Or is it more in the "lesser of two evils" category?

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

For the sake of argument, I would discount self-defense. Obviously, if someone's trying to kill someone, they have a right to fight back and defend themselves.

But what about in other situations, like being at war and you want to bomb an enemy truck factory or something like that? You might kill innocent civilians, but would that be considered extremist? Or is it more in the "lesser of two evils" category?

It depends in the end for war on the problem of what is a legimate target and what is the correct legal understanding of collateral damage.
To me that is a case of in effect moral relativism.

 

[Stevicus]

It depends in the end for war on the problem of what is a legimate target and what is the correct legal understanding of collateral damage.
To me that is a case of in effect moral relativism.

Yeah, it's always been a tricky question as to how far is "too far" when it comes to actions in wartime.

It's certainly been an important issue to many nations, considering the number of treaties, international conventions, international law, etc. to try to draw where the line actually is in terms of what is deemed acceptable.

It's one of those things that, if everyone followed the rules faithfully and honorably, there would be no problems. Trouble is, people and governments tend to flout the rules. That's where it gets all the more muddled.

 

[Secret Chief]

Please explain all the recent one-sided campus riots.

I know of no riots caused by being woke. Given that woke means awareness of prejudice and discrimination, I don't believe that it is an example of extremism.
I've not been following any American campus news.

 

[stvdv]

As long as we can agree that is not unique to just religious faith.

I made that quite clear