Terrorism: A Battle of Words, Not Deeds

Language philosopher Bry Willis discusses the dismissal of terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, who is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. A judge ruled that while the murder was heinous, it did not meet the statutory definition of terrorism as there was no evidence of a desire to terrorise the public or engage in a broader campaign of violence. This decision highlights the elasticity of the term "terrorism" in legal contexts, where prosecutors may employ it to seek harsher penalties, while judges are bound by specific legal definitions. The article argues that such legal disagreements expose the insufficiency of language to precisely define complex acts and demonstrate how judicial hierarchy and interpretation ultimately determine the legal classification of an event.https://philosophics.blog/2025/09/18/luigi-mangione-is-not-a-terrorist/