Preliminary Remarks—Homicide in General

Chapter XIV

Necessity of restricting the investigation to the more important modes of conduct with which the moral consciousness is concerned, p. sq.—The six groups into which these modes of conduct may be divided, p. .—The most sacred duty which we owe to our fellow-creatures generally considered to be regard for their lives, ibid.—Among various uncivilised peoples human life said to be held very cheap, p. sq.—Among others homicide or murder said to be hardly known, p. sq.—In other instances homicide expressly said to be regarded as wrong, p. sq.—In every society custom prohibits homicide within a certain circle of men, p. .—Savages distinguish between an act of homicide committed within their own community and one where the victim is a stranger, pp. –333.—In various instances, however, the rule, “Thou shalt not kill,” applies even to foreigners, p. sq.—Some uncivilised peoples said to have no wars, p. .—Savages’ recognition of intertribal rights in times of peace obvious from certain customs connected with their wars, p. sq.—Savage custom does not always allow indiscriminate slaughter even in warfare, p. sq.—The readiness with which savages engage in war, p. .—The old distinction between injuries committed against compatriots and harm done to foreigners remains among peoples more advanced in culture, p. sq.—The readiness with which such peoples wage war on foreign nations, and the estimation in which the successful warrior is held, pp. –340.—The life of a guest sacred, p. .—The commencement of international hostilities preceded by special ceremonies, ibid.—Warfare in some cases condemned, or a distinction made between just and unjust war, pp. –342.—Even in war the killing of an enemy under certain circumstances prohibited, either by custom or by enlightened moral opinion, pp. –344.