VIGILANTISM IN MORAL PHILOSOPHY - McMaster University

VIGILANTISM IN MORAL PHILOSOPHY

VIGILANTISM IN MORAL PHILOSOPHY By: SAFIYYA AHMAD, B.A.Sc.

A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts

McMaster University, ? Copyright by Safiyya Ahmad, August 2017

ii McMaster University MASTER OF ARTS (2017) Hamilton, Ontario (Philosophy) TITLE: Vigilantism in Moral Philosophy AUTHOR: Safiyya Ahmad, B.A.Sc. (McMaster University) SUPERVISOR: Dr. Wil Waluchow; SECOND READER: Dr. Elisabeth Gedge NUMBER OF PAGES: vi, 156

iii Abstract Vigilantism is an underdeveloped concept in scholarly discourse, particularly within the field of philosophy. By my definition, vigilantes are private citizens who engage in illegal coercive activity, against alleged transgressors of some normative code. Vigilantes seek to fulfill some conception of justice, and in doing so, they presume upon the state's authority. This definition excludes similar activities, like police brutality or terrorism. It also improves upon earlier definitions from other scholars. Some deontological objections to vigilantism include concerns about democratic principles, rights to due process, autonomy and consent. Some consequentialist objections include concerns about negative social prejudices, and long-term instability. Additional objections include psychological damage to the perpetrator, and a lack of necessity. In spite of these valid concerns, vigilantism can be morally justified under the following circumstances: a breakdown of the legal system, protection of vulnerable individuals, proportional punishments, due process, attempts to mend the larger social issues, and the advancement of justice. Depending on particular circumstances, vigilantism can be morally justified, morally optimal, or unjustified. This thesis only provides a cursory examination of vigilantism, and these ideas need more rigorous investigation and development. Further discussion on this subject is also very important, given our volatile political climate.

iv Acknowledgments This project would not have been possible without encouragement, feedback and assistance from my supervisor, Dr. Wil Waluchow, and my second reader, Dr. Elisabeth Gedge. Thank you also to the entire McMaster philosophy faculty for all of their support, and for providing a creative, holistic, and warm atmosphere for all of us over the past two years. I never regretted a moment of my time here. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude toward my fellow graduate students as well. They kindly allowed me to bounce ideas off of them, and tolerantly endured my rants about various fictional stories. Finally, my family has been incredibly supportive of my academic whimsies for the past six years. They fed me, housed me, and talked me out of occasional panic attacks without a word of complaint. I therefore forgive them for not letting me adopt a puppy.

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Table of Contents

Introductory Remarks..............................................................................................1

Chapter One: Methodology and Definitions............................................................6 1.1 Private Citizens......................................................................................9 1.2 Coercive, Illegal Activity.....................................................................14 1.3 Alleged Transgressor of Normative Code............................................27 1.4 Pursuit of Justice..................................................................................35 1.5 Presumption of State Authority............................................................43 1.6 Alternate Definitions of Vigilantism....................................................50 1.7 Conclusion...........................................................................................61

Chapter Two: Is Vigilantism Ever Justified?.........................................................63 2.1 The Case Against Vigilantism..............................................................66 2.1.1 Objection from Due Process.................................................66 2.1.2 Objection from Democratic Principles.................................69 2.1.3 Objection from Autonomy and Consent...............................73 2.1.4 Objection from Negative Social Prejudices..........................79 2.1.5 Objection from Instability and Damaged Faith....................83 2.1.6 Effect on Victim and Perpetrator...........................................87 2.1.7 Objection from Lack of Necessity........................................91 2.2 The Case in Favour of Vigilantism......................................................96 2.2.1 Case Study: Gulabi Gang....................................................102 2.3 Conclusion.........................................................................................107

Chapter Three: When Is Vigilantism Justified?...................................................109 3.1 Conditions to Justify Vigilantism.......................................................109 3.1.1 Extraordinary Breakdown of Legal System........................111 3.1.2 Impartial and Publicly Known Procedures.........................114 3.1.3 Proportional Response for a Wrongdoing...........................118 3.1.4 Protection of Vulnerable People.........................................121 3.1.5 Attempts to Rebuild Proper Social Structures....................124 3.2 Necessity and Sufficiency..................................................................125 3.2.1 Alternative Options for Moral Justification........................126 3.2.2 Advancement of Justice......................................................129 3.3 Different Types of Vigilantism...........................................................132 3.3.1 Defensive Vigilantism.........................................................136 3.3.2 Persecution Vigilantism......................................................137

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3.3.3 Internal Vigilantism............................................................138 3.3.4 Spontaneous Vigilantism....................................................141 3.3.5 Grudge Vigilantism.............................................................144 3.3.6 Conclusion..........................................................................146

Concluding Remarks............................................................................................148

Bibliography.........................................................................................................151

M.A. Thesis ? Safiyya Ahmad; McMaster University ? Philosophy

1

Introductory Remarks

"The existence of law is one thing; its merit or demerit is another." ? H. L. A. Hart

Vigilantism is an underdeveloped concept in scholarly discourse,

particularly within the field of philosophy. This is not a minor oversight as it has

real ramifications on law and society. On July 13, 2013, George Zimmerman was

acquitted of second-degree murder after shooting an unarmed black man. Given

the lack of evidence and the social context, it was unlikely that Zimmerman

would be found guilty of murder. However, he might have been convicted of

vigilantism, if vigilantism was a better developed concept in law and academia.

This thesis seeks to open a discussion about vigilantism in the field of legal and

moral philosophy. Specifically, I intend to prove that in the absence of legitimate

legal alternatives, vigilantism can be a morally acceptable course of action. To

this end, I will also discuss the myriad ways in which vigilantism can become

completely unacceptable, and the reasons for maintaining caution in any account

of justification.

There is some prior scholarly material on vigilantism, but it is scattered

across different academic fields, often without consistency or rigorous discussion.

Most academic interest in vigilantism lies in sociological studies on particular

cases, without much philosophical debate on what it means to be a vigilante, or

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