[jdbernard]

This doesn't justify torture, but I can imagine many situations where it physical violence can be good. I would say it is ethically good to physically harm someone if that harm prevents then from harming others, for example.

There are tons of questions surrounding when it is OK, but to say that physical violence is never appropriate is to live in a fantasy world where evil doesn't exist. There are some forms of aggression that cannot be successfully resisted without resorting to violence.

[lostcolony]

It's really easy to come up with hypotheticals when violence stops other violence, with no other ill effects and no risk.

Real life isn't as pretty. You meet violence with violence and all you're guaranteed is violence. You may 'win', you may not, but all you're certain to achieve is perpetuating the cycle.

[thanksgiving]

You know that it is just a slippery slope away from supporting violence against charlie hebdo, right?