The phrase "A life for a life" is an expression of retribution used to describe the principle of an eye for an eye. This phrase contrasts revenge with justice and has been used to argue that it is justified to exact punishment upon someone who has done wrong. In this context, "a life for a life" means that the offender should suffer as much as their victim did.
Table Of Content:
- Life | Definition of Life by Merriam-Webster
- LIFE | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary
- Zest For Life | Definition of Zest For Life by Merriam-Webster
- Meaning of life - Wikipedia
- The Meaning of Life (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
- Life science Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
- What Is Life Purpose? | Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing
- Life Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
- Living things - Definition and Examples - Biology Online Dictionary
- LIFE Synonyms: 158 Synonyms & Antonyms for LIFE | Thesaurus.com
1. Life | Definition of Life by Merriam-Webster
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life
done as long as a person lives : existing or lasting throughout a person's life. See the full definition for life in the English Language Learners Dictionary. life. noun.
2. LIFE | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/life
4 days ago ... life noun (TIME ALIVE) ... the period between birth and death, or the experience or state of being alive: Life's too short to worry about money! I'm ...
3. Zest For Life | Definition of Zest For Life by Merriam-Webster
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zest%20for%20lifeZest for life definition is - a feeling of enjoyment and enthusiasm for life. ... Cite this Entry. “Zest for life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, ...
4. Meaning of life - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meaning_of_life
The meaning of life, or the answer to the question: "What is the meaning of life?", pertains to the significance of living or existence in general. Many other related ...
5. The Meaning of Life (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/life-meaning/
May 15, 2007 ... The core idea is that for a finite condition to be meaningful, it must obtain its meaning from another condition that has meaning. So, if one's life is ...
6. Life science Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/life-science
Life science definition, any science that deals with living organisms, their life processes, and their interrelationships, as biology, ... See synonyms for: life science / life scientist on Thesaurus.com ... British Dictionary definitions for life science.
7. What Is Life Purpose? | Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing
https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/what-life-purpose
Others seek meaning through spirituality or religious beliefs. Some people may find their purpose clearly expressed in all these aspects of life. Purpose will be ...
8. Life Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/lifeBritish Dictionary definitions for life · the state or quality that distinguishes living beings or organisms from dead ones and from inorganic matter, characterized ...
9. Living things - Definition and Examples - Biology Online Dictionary
https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/living-thing
The term thing came from the Old English þing, meaning “entity”, “being”, “body”, or “matter”. Synonyms: organism; life form; creature. History. While Earth is ...
10. LIFE Synonyms: 158 Synonyms & Antonyms for LIFE | Thesaurus.com
https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/life
Find 158 ways to say LIFE, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com, the world's ... See definition of life on Dictionary. com.
What does “A Life for a Life” mean?
“A Life for a Life” is an expression of retribution which states that those who do wrong should be punished to the same extent as their victims. It suggests that justice demands equal returns – in this case, the return would be loss of life.
Is “A Life for a Life” justifiable?
What's considered “justifiable” depends on each individual person's beliefs and values. Some may argue that it is necessary to punish offenders in order to ensure justice and protect society from further harm, while others may find this type of punishment too extreme or unnecessary. Ultimately, there is no definitive answer as to whether or not “A Life for a Life” is justifiable.
Are there alternatives to “A Life for a Life”?
Yes, there are alternatives such as incarceration or financial restitution which can be used instead of taking a life in order to punish those who have done wrong. These types of punishments could provide greater deterrence against crime and prevent future wrongful acts without having to resort to taking another person's life.
Does “A Life for a Life” always refer to death?
Not necessarily – the term can also refer to any type of punishment which results in equal suffering between perpetrator and victim (e.g., retaliation if someone breaks your arm, you could break theirs). However, it typically refers more specifically to taking another person's life in vengeance for one already taken by the perpetrator.
How common is the use of “A Life For ALife”?
The phrase itself is not very common but its concept has been around since ancient times and still exists today in some parts of the world where rule of law may be weaker than other places and people rely more heavily on vigilante justice systems in order to maintain peace and order within society.
Conclusion:
The phrase "A life for a life" speaks directly about justice and retribution and carries with it connotations of both morality and fairness. It suggests that when someone does wrong, there should be an equal response - one which does not exceed nor falls short from what was done by them initially - so that balance can be maintained within society.
