HUM Is war ethical

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Thomas Edison State College *

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101

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Philosophy

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May 30, 2024

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docx

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Uploaded by ColonelGorillaMaster898

1 Is war ethical? Introduction
2 Some argue that War can be justified and considered ethical under certain circumstances. Just War Theory says War must meet specific criteria to be deemed ethical, authors say. They say there is no definitive answer to whether War is ethical. Authors: Perspectives on the morality of War vary from Utilitarianism to deontological perspectives. There is a case to be made for situations where peace means of conflict resolution have been ineffective or incapacity. War needs to be put into service so vital interests can be protected and safeguarded from aggression. Similarly, War could be the only means of achieving desirable change or defending innocent lives against grave injustice, tyrannies, and humanitarian crises. Various factors, such as the particular circumstances, available alternatives, cultural and ethical perspectives, values, and aims of parties in conflict, are also considered when assessing whether War is a necessary or unavoidable disaster. It is a subject that continues to be controversial and complex. Whether War is ethical is a complex and contentious topic that philosophers, ethicists, and scholars have debated for centuries. There is no definitive answer, as perspectives on this issue vary greatly. Some argue that War can be justified and considered ethical under certain circumstances. This viewpoint is often associated with the theory of Just War, which deals with the justification of how and why wars are fought. Ethically justifying war and forms of warfare that can or may not be used is an aspect of just war theory, as well as historical elements or just war tradition, which deals with a traditional framework of norms and agreements throughout history in different wars. (Davis, 2016) According to the Just War theory, War may be deemed ethical if it meets specific criteria, such as being fought in self-defense, having a just cause, being a last resort when all peaceful means have been exhausted, and employing proportional force to achieve the intended goals.  Jus Ad Bellem
3 The Latin jus ad bellum means "right to war" or "justice in the line of battle: and is used to state when there is reason to use armed forces. The concept of jus ad bellum is often associated with the Just War Theory, which provides a framework for assessing the morality of engaging in War. The theory says that specific criteria must be met for a war to be regarded as being just .  Possessing just cause is the first and arguably the most critical condition of  jus ad bellum  (Davis, 2016). By the end of the medieval period, justification for War required cause (defense, retaking something wrongly taken, punishment of evil); good authority (temporal rulers with no superior); right intention (no hatred of the enemy, desire for vainglory or power, bullying, etc.); the goal of peace; and a reasonable hope of success. States should also use force only if it achieves better than harm and as a last resort. (Johnson & Lynch, 2013) Jus In Bello The principles of jus in bello, also known as the law of War or international humanitarian law, are rules and principles that govern the conduct of parties engaged in armed conflict. These principles are designed to mitigate the human suffering caused by War and promote the protection of civilians, combatants, and prisoners of War. The rules of conduct within War fall under the two broad principles of discrimination and proportionality. Discrimination applies to those legitimate targets in a war, while the principle of proportionality relates to whether or not there is moral justification for using force. The third principle, namely the responsibility principle, which calls for examining whether responsibility lies in War, can be added to the traditional two. Military necessity, Prohibition of unnecessary suffering, and protection of prisoners of War fall under this third principle. (Davis, 2016) These principles are the basis for an assessment of whether or not going to War is justified. These instruments are not enforceable, but they aid in shaping world norms and the Decision-Making process of States when
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