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Gandhi: Different varieties of Pacifism Essay

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Gandhian Pacifism
Pacifism is opposition to the practice of war. Many pacifists have a commitment to non-violence in general in society, making a commitment to achieving one's goals only through actively non-violent resistance or non-aggressive means. Among these pacifists, there may also be differing views as to what constitutes violence.
There are several different varieties of pacifism including those who believe killing is always wrong, those who believe that any kind of violence is wrong, those who argue that personal violence is always wrong but political violence is sometimes right, and those who justify some person …show more content…

They may have even decided to continue attacking our country because we would seem to be weak and an easy target, had we not protected ourselves and taken a stand.
One writer, Douglas P. Lackey, tries to understand what Gandhi is trying to say about peace and nonviolence. He states that Gandhi believes “By acting nonviolently, pacifists not only purify their own souls but also transform the souls of their opponents”(160). This was known as the “sacredness of life” defense, which basically believed that by sacrificing one life many could be saved, but Gandhi feels that this still does not save souls. If people are being saved but through violence then nobody is really saving their souls (160). He believed that the killer would be perverted by this act, and it would remain on his soul. Lackey examines this in another sense.
“The system of values professed be Gandhi must be kept in mind when considering the frequent accusations that nonviolence alone does not work”(161). The practice of nonviolence did not prevent previous wars from occurring. On the other hand, “the soul of the satyagrahi will be strengthened and purified by nonviolent struggles, and in this purification the Gandhian pacifist can obtain spiritual victory even in the face of political defeat”(161). So basically speaking we should let our enemies suffer the ultimate consequence of carrying this

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