# Can the destruction of any physical object be justified with death?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-destruction-of-any-physical-object-be-justified-with-death/578465>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [April 15, 2011, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-destruction-of-any-physical-object-be-justified-with-death/578465 "2011-04-15T09:14:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-destruction-of-any-physical-object-be-justified-with-death/578465/41 "2011-04-17T11:36:12Z")

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> [@Shodan](#):
>
> Interesting question.
> 
> I came into the thread thinking “no way - human life is more important than any property”. But then I got to thinking.
> 
> Suppose somebody discovered something irreplaceable, that could add to human knowledge. Someone finds a backup copy of all the volumes in the Library of Alexandria, or a genuine extra-terrestrial artifact. And some nut decides it’s evil, and tries to destroy it.
> 
> Would I be willing to use deadly force to defend it, even if I was sure that neither I nor any innocent third party was under threat?

I agree with you, with the stipulation that defending something with deadly force is different than punishing with death for an act already committed. If I could save the Library at Alexandria, I would use deadly force to protect it; but if it was already destroyed, I don’t think the death penalty accomplishes anything.

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