During humanities history, the use of violence remains a current reoccurring thread throughout the various stages of man’s growth and evolution. Humanity frequently responds violently to various life situations as a single entity or a body. Greed, dominance, elitism, and power are often the rational and justification behind man’s intensity, yet, there are times in history when violence is used to simply survive. Nelson Mandela felt justified in violence as the last resort. According to Immanuel Kant, Thomas Hobbes, and David Hume, Mandela was also justified. Totalitarianism, a flagrant disregard for non-white African lives, and inhuman abuse from a tyrannical government regime justified Nelson Mandela’s revolution and use of violent tactics to overcome despotic power
In the light of oppression and legitimized fighting, Mandela’s fight against South African Apartheid is a benchmark case for justified violence. During Mandela’s beginning years with the African National Congress, non-violence was endorsed by Mandela between 1940 and 1950. However, in …show more content…
2). In The Metaphysics of Morals, Kant defends man’s right to protect one’s being from violent and despotic powers and a counter use of force through violence may indeed be justified. However, Kant seemingly contradicts this statement by claiming “the people must endure the most unbearable abuse of supreme authority” (Kant, 1974, p. 320). According to Kant, subjects or citizens have no just or cause reason to revolt against its government and civil rebellion can never be justified. The political and legal regime of Apartheid did indeed cause 30 years of unbearable and intolerable suffering for non-white Africans. “It was the government that should have been told to refrain from its inhuman policy of violence and massacre, not the African people…”
In the light of oppression and legitimized fighting, Mandela’s fight against South African Apartheid is a benchmark case for justified violence. During Mandela’s beginning years with the African National Congress, non-violence was endorsed by Mandela between 1940 and 1950. However, in …show more content…
2). In The Metaphysics of Morals, Kant defends man’s right to protect one’s being from violent and despotic powers and a counter use of force through violence may indeed be justified. However, Kant seemingly contradicts this statement by claiming “the people must endure the most unbearable abuse of supreme authority” (Kant, 1974, p. 320). According to Kant, subjects or citizens have no just or cause reason to revolt against its government and civil rebellion can never be justified. The political and legal regime of Apartheid did indeed cause 30 years of unbearable and intolerable suffering for non-white Africans. “It was the government that should have been told to refrain from its inhuman policy of violence and massacre, not the African people…”