If someone is made nonexistent in a makeshift way, how many people might accidentally be killed for real?

Question

It has been said that for every action there is an equal and oppostie reaction. It is one of the fundamental laws of physics. A lot of people take it beyond science.

What would be the possible death toll? Would it be 60? 800? 1200? A figure higher or lower?

What I mean is the following question: If someone is declared to be nonexistent or as good as dead in a makeshift way, how many "significant" people might accidentally be killed for real in exchange?

The point to which I was referring is the disavowal of an existent person.

Answer 1

This is a very strange, yet interesting question. I cannot say that I completely understand it, but here is my "college try."

I really don't think you are applying the idea that there is an equal and opposite reaction for every action correctly. Judging by your question, I think the more appropriate question would be how many lives would be created if X amount are destroyed.

As you said, people try to take scientific concepts and apply them to non-scientific situations. I believe that to be what you are doing. There is no real way to answer such a question unless you accept the premise that if lives are taken then lives are created, or in your case, if lives are taken in a 'makeshift way' how many more lives are taken to balance it.

Both questions pose logical problems as well as empirical ones. For example, if we accept that for every life taken one is created then there would be the same number of people on the Earth at all times. We know this to not be true as the population of the Earth has grown over time. In the case that you presented, if lives were taken to balance other lives taken in a 'makeshift way,' then the population of the Earth would eventually decrease to 0. Again this would prove to be untrue as we know that the population of the Earth has increased.

I know that isn't exactly what you wanted to know, but I answered the question to the best of my ability. I hope it helps. =)

Edit: I understand that you meant the "disavowal" of an individual, and my answer remains the same.

Answer 2

What's the make shift way?

Technically, everyone is good as dead. So...
If someone is declared non-existant there is no need to kill them. Significant people probably could not be declaed nonexistant as you see them on tv or hear about them almost every day, so they would not be killed.

Answer 3

Try to drill down to a more workable reality.

Answer 4

Whatcha smokin'?????