Plebcouncilman@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
I think it is fair to label something as an assassination if the death is actually only a means to an end and not the end itself. For example a prince assassinates his father to become king. The true goal is becoming king, but in order to do that the prince needs to kill the king, but the killing itself is not the end goal.
So most politically motivated murders are assassinations, because the death itself is a means to other ends.
if the death is actually only a means to an end and not the end itself
I would restrict the intended end to institutional change—it’s not an assassination if you kill someone for their parking space, but it is if you kill them for their school board vote.
Huh? That has nothing to do with the definition of an assassination??? Where are you getting that from? Sometimes the goal really is just to kill the king…
The difference between homicide and assassination is who is being killed. For it to be an “assassination,” it just needs to be a planned attack on an important figure. You could definitely call yesterday’s killing an assassination if that’s what you’re getting at… Doesn’t need to be a ‘good’ person, just an important/prominent person.
Not sure why the above comment is getting so many upvotes considering it’s literally just wrong. Has nothing to do with “ends/means” or whatever the fuck.
Yeah and when the intention is just to kill the person then it’s just murder. Both murder and assassinations are homicides. When the attack isn’t planned, at least legally, it is considered manslaughter. So the only possible definition left is that an assassination is a killing that serves an end instead of being the end itself. Thats were I got it from, working logically through the definitions.
But just in case: www.britannica.com/topic/assassination
We are pretty much arguing the same position, my definition was just a little broader because I think limiting it to “prominent persons” is a little hazy. Was the CEO that Luigi supposedly killed a prominent person? I can’t even remember their name and I certainly don’t know their face so I wouldn’t consider them prominent. I’d argue this is the case for most people in regards to that case. Yet the fact of the matter is that that situation was also an assassination.
government leaders and other prominent persons for political purposes
I guess it depends on who you call prominent but yes, the billionaire? CEO of one of the biggest healthcare companies in the US was in a prominent (important) position regardless whether anyone knew who he was. And yes there is evidence of a political purpose.
I have to say that going into this my reaction was no, this is not an assassination. However looking at the linked definition and thinking it through changed my opinion
So the only possible definition left is that an assassination is a killing that serves an end instead of being the end itself.
So every murder of a parent or spouse to get inheritance or insurance money is an assassination? That seems a bit to broad.
Also I can think if like a dozen possible other definitions that have not been ruled out.
Hayduke@lemmy.world 2 months ago
You have selected REGICIDE. If you know the name of the king or queen being murdered, press ONE.
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Booooop
kambusha@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
Why don’t you just tell me