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Philosophical Debate Leads to Shooting

by Nuzha Nuseibeh

Russia may be all for peaceful negotiations when it comes to Syria, but you don't want to mess with their nerds.

A philosophical debate turned violent late Sunday when one of two men discussing the works of philosopher Immanuel Kant pulled a gun and shot his friend.

“They decided to find out which of them is a bigger fan of this philosopher, and a tempestuous argument escalated into a fist fight,” the Rostov region Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The 28-year-old Russian victim was apparently buying a beer in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don with his 26-year-old pal after work when they got into an argument over the “merits and works” of the late German philosopher. The argument reportedly became heated, after which the younger man allegedly pulled out an air gun and shot his friend in the head, fleeing the scene immediately after. The victim was taken to a close-by hospital, and is reportedly in stable condition.

The suspect was later found and held by the police on charges of “intentional infliction of serious harm.”

Surprisingly, this isn't the first time an intellectual debate has devolved into violence. In 2004, a couple's theological argument turned physical — to the point of a scissor stab in the hand — after they watched The Passion of the Christ.

The debate? Whether God, the Father and the Holy Trinity, was human or symbolic. So you can, er, see how it'd get pretty heated.