GOOD CONDUCT- just war theory

Question 1

the theory

Answer 1

• belief in sol underlies the Christian theory of the Just War theory
• in very early history Church was largely pacifist
• over centuries Just War theory developed largely by Augustine & Aquinas
• two main parts:
  - Ius ad bellum - addresses conditions when going to war must be justifiable
  
  • Ius in bello addresses way war must be fought

Question 2

what is a just war

Answer 2

• defending against attack is example of fighting for appropriate reason
  war must bring peace at the end
• all peaceful ways must have been attempted for war to be last resort
• government acting fair are allowed to declare war
• quakers don’t agree with theory

Question 3

Ius ad bellum
(conditions to go to war)

Answer 3

• has to be a just cause (defending from attack like Belgium in WWI)
• war can only be declared by a competent & legitimate authority (declared by leader promoting justice not like Hitler)
• war must be fought with right intention (justified motive like war with nazis to free jews)
• reasonable probability of success (don’t go to war if think you’ll lose)
• must be last resort (diplomacy used prior)
• must be proportionality benefits proportionate to expected harm ( can’t use extreme pressure to force another nation into agreement)

Question 4

Ius in bello (conditions during war)

Answer 4

• has to be principle of discrimination (civilians cannot be targeted)
• proportionality of means to ends so means to fight war proportionate to ends required (force used needs to match to agressors)

Question 5

weapons of mass destruction

Answer 5

• atomic (nuclear) - heat/radiation, reaches several million degrees, 1945 on Hiroshima & Nagasaki
• chemical - cause injury, incapitation or death, phosgene responsible for 85% of 100,000 deaths
• biological - include virus & bacteria, one of most feared
• would never fulfil Just War criteria of discrimination, proportionality of probability of success due to impact

Question 6

opposition to just war theory of WMD

Answer 6

• many Christians view such weapons as intrinsically evil
• Pope Francis urged the abolition of nuclear weapons as had prior two Popes

Question 7

acceptance to just war theory of WMD

Answer 7

• some argue that modern conventional warfare is almost as bad as ABC warfare in its methos & effects
• they cannot be un-invented
• Fletchers book Situation Ethics; A New Morality implied 1945 nuclear attack was most loving in that particular situation