Can you harm a rock? No Socrates.
Can you harm the wind? Certainly not, Socrates.
Can you harm the green slime on the shady side of the rock? I don't think so.
Can you harm the fungi that grow out of the slime? Seems wierd to think that you could.
How is the term 'harm' related to 'violence'? Is 'to harm' the same as 'to do violence to'?
Harm -
- O.E. hearm "hurt, evil, grief, pain, insult," from P.Gmc. *kharmaz (cf. O.N. harmr, O.Fris. herm, Ger. harm "grief, sorrow, harm"). The verb is from O.E. hearmian "to hurt," and ousted O.E. skeþþan "scathe" in all but a few senses.
Violence
late 13c., "physical force used to inflict injury or damage," from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. violence, from L. violentia "vehemence, impetuosity," from violentus "vehement, forcible," probably related to violare (see violate). Weakened sense of "improper treatment" is attested from 1590s. Violent is attested from mid-14c.1 In M.E. the word also was applied in reference to heat, sunlight, smoke, etc., with the sense "having some quality so strongly as to produce a powerful effect."
Violate
- 1432, "to break" (an oath, etc.), from L. violatus (see violation). Sense of "ravish" is first recorded c.1440.
Violation
1432, from L. violationem (nom. violatio) "an injury, irreverence," from violatus, pp. of violare "to violate, treat with violence, outrage, dishonor," perhaps related to vis "violence, strength."
Hubris
1884, from Gk. hybris "wanton violence, insolence, outrage," originally "presumption toward the gods," of unknown origin.
