Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Can terrorism ever be justified?
Position‹2 of 2

Terrorism is justified under certain conditions

The moral justification of terrorism depends on the aim and consequences of terrorist acts. Consequentialists argue that terrorism is justified if its consequences improve injustice. Deontologists judge terrorism by the political and social context within which terrorist acts occur. In extreme cases, terrorism may become the only option to choose.

Supporting arguments · 3

  1. Terrorism is justified when it is used against an oppressive regime
    If terrorism is used as a politically effective weapon in the revolutionary struggle to overcome oppression or improve the human rights of a group, then it is justified on the grounds of distributive justice.
  2. Terrorism is justified if it eliminates more evil than it causes
    Consequentialists argue that a terrorist act should be judges by its consequences. If terrorism prevents further injustice, suffering, and degradation in the world than it causes, then it can be justified on the grounds of consequentialism.
  3. Terrorism is justified in the cases of supreme emergency and moral disaster
    When a supreme emergency or moral disaster exists, the price of not resorting to terrorism may be so weighty as to override those of justice and rights. In such cases, terrorism is justified.