Concept
Militant
Overview
A militant is a person engaged in warfare or combat. The word is often used as a euphemism for someone who is an entrenched or aggressive adherent to a particular cause, often an ideological faction. The term is most commonly used by mass media to maintain a neutral tone and not appear biased to one side, which has led to criticism.
John Simpson writes in a BBC piece that "terrorist" is a loaded word used by people who morally disapprove of militant actions. However, the founding principles of the BBC preclude it from telling readers and listeners who to support and condemn. Even during World War II, Nazis were not referred to as "evil", but as "the enemy". And during The Troubles when attacks occurred at home, there was immense pressure to change usage, but the broadcaster remained firm. CBC News editor Esther Enkin wrote that CBC has avoided terms like "terrorist" for over thirty years, and most Western media do so. They prefer the viewer or listener to use their own judgement. The CBC language guide instructs journalists to be cautious with the words terrorist and terrorism, but the terms are controversial. Using them would cause a problem of distinguishing one incident as terrorism, and another as a "mere" bombing. Reuters also only uses "terrorist" in attributed quotes, but allows the use of terrorism and counter-terrorism in general, but not specific events. The policy intends to use dispassionate language without emotive terms, so people can make their own judgement.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
It is called _Christian_, because it consists of those who believe in Christ. It is called _Catholic_ or Universal, because it is meant to include all men everywhere. Catholic does not mean _Roman_ Catholic. MILITANT AND TRIUMPHANT. The Church, consisting of true believers, is one and the same Church on earth and in heaven. On earth it is the Church Militant, because its members are still fighting the good fight of…
Martin Luther, An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
States what Militant is; names Militant several times.
But after this Doctrine, "that the Church now Militant, is the Kingdome of God spoken of in the Old and New Testament," was received in the World; the ambition, and canvasing for the Offices that belong thereunto, and especially for that great Office of being Christs Lieutenant, and the Pompe of them that obtained therein the principal Publique Charges, became by degrees so evident, that they lost the inward…
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan
Opens on Militant; names Militant.
_Vernunft_ is derived from _vernehmen_, which is not a synonym for the verb to hear, but signifies the consciousness of the meaning of thoughts communicated in words. It is by the help of language alone that reason accomplishes its most important achievements,—the united action of several individuals, the planned co-operation of many thousands, civilisation, the state; also science, the storing up of experience, the…
Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Idea
States what Militant is.
Philosophers who discussed Militant
Related ideas
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of Lebensphilosophie.