On Primoratz's Definition of Terrorism |
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| Authors: | WALTER SINNOTT-ARMSTRONG |
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| Institution: | Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Philosophy Department, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA. |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACT In “What is terrorism?” Igor Primoratz defines ‘terrorism’ as “the deliberate use of violence, or threat of its use, against innocent people, with the aim of intimidating them, or other people, into a course of action they otherwise would not take.” I argue that this definition needs to be modified (1) by requiring that the harm or threat be to persons other than those intimidated, (2) by including aims which do not concern action, and (3) by distinguishing terrorists who know they are terrorists from those who do not. |
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