Why is Violence Bad?

Abstract

Violence is not wrong by definition, but it is prima facie wrong. That means when violence occurs we must suspend moral judgement on the event until the perpetrator justifies his or her actions. The act of violence of rape is wrong, but the act of violence of fighting off a rapist is not wrong. It is only if no justification comes forth, or the justification given is inadequate, that we can say that the violence was wrong. Of course this raises the question ‘why is violence wrong’?. If violence is defined as a violation of integrity, why is it wrong to violate someone’s integrity?