Who is responsible for a quarter of the world's population being killed?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers around a riddle regarding the individual responsible for the death of 25% of the world's population, referencing the biblical story of Cain and Abel from the book of Genesis. Participants debate the interpretation of the present tense in the context of historical events, particularly focusing on Cain's act of killing Abel as a metaphorical representation of this statistic. The conversation highlights the nuances of language and interpretation in discussing historical narratives.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of biblical narratives, specifically the story of Cain and Abel.
  • Familiarity with literary analysis and interpretation of tense in language.
  • Knowledge of historical context regarding population statistics.
  • Ability to engage in philosophical discussions about morality and responsibility.
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the implications of biblical stories on modern ethical discussions.
  • Research literary devices used in historical texts, focusing on tense and narrative perspective.
  • Investigate the historical population statistics and their interpretations.
  • Examine philosophical theories regarding responsibility and moral culpability in historical contexts.
USEFUL FOR

Philosophers, theologians, literature students, and anyone interested in the intersection of historical narratives and moral philosophy.

young e.
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Is there any member here who could answer this question:


Who is the person who kills exactly 25% of the population in the whole world?
 
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Smells like a riddle. In the book of Genesis, when Cain killed Abel, he killed 1 out of 4 people (Cain, Abel, Adam, and Eve). This is your homework?
 
Yes, I like your answer, but it uses the present tense "kills". That would make Cain seem out of the question.
 
No, I disagree. Use of the present tense to indicate something that happened at a past time that you are talking about is a bit arty (frankly it gives me the pip) but not unreasonable. I like Jamesrc's question.
 

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