Question

Justification defenses claim a kind of moral high ground. They may be offered by people who find themselves forced to choose between "two evils." Do you think that such defenses are appropriate? Can causing harm be justified on the grounds that it prevents harm? Support your opinion.

Answer 1

Between justification and excuse for a good quarter-century and the scholarly attention has purchased unusually widespread agreement. Justification defenses are said to apply when the actor's conduct was not morally wrongful; excuse defenses lie when the actor did engage in wrongful conduct but is not morally blameworthy.