Generally via public challenges and consent delivered to 3rd party witnesses (seconds) that could verify that the duel took place in an agreed upon manner. It was, in certain times and places, very legal and ritualized.
The real reason is that it doesn’t actually settle disputes. It mostly serves as a nuclear option to elevate arguments, attack someone else’s character, or simply a legal loophole for violent sociopaths. See: this crazy example.
By the witnesses? Formal dueling had rules and rituals involving a number of people with ways to get out until the last moment. Informal dueling not so much. And on the spot fighting none at all.
Society was more responsible for the death of formal dueling than the law. Informal dueling and plain fighting were almost always considered murder.
Yes and how do we verify that the dead person consented?
I shit you not this precisely is why dueling is illegal.
Generally via public challenges and consent delivered to 3rd party witnesses (seconds) that could verify that the duel took place in an agreed upon manner. It was, in certain times and places, very legal and ritualized.
The real reason is that it doesn’t actually settle disputes. It mostly serves as a nuclear option to elevate arguments, attack someone else’s character, or simply a legal loophole for violent sociopaths. See: this crazy example.
Yup, can’t kill an idea nor does it resolve the argument.
You build state-sanctioned dueling arenas, complete with a whole system of paperwork proving consent.
By the witnesses? Formal dueling had rules and rituals involving a number of people with ways to get out until the last moment. Informal dueling not so much. And on the spot fighting none at all.
Society was more responsible for the death of formal dueling than the law. Informal dueling and plain fighting were almost always considered murder.
There will be an app for that.