Just war Theory Flashcards
What are the six conditions for a just war?
Proper authority. Just cause. Right intention. Last resort. Proportionality. Reasonable chance of success.
What does proper authority mean?
War must be declared and controlled by a proper authority, such as a government, monarch or the UN.
What is meant by a just cause?
There must be a good reason for going to war: it should not be for greed.
What is meant by right intention?
The reason for going to war must be to do good and overcome evil.
What is meant by a last resort?
Peaceful methods of sorting out the problem should have been tried first, such as negotiating.
What is meant by proportionality?
The benefits of going to war must be greater than the harm it will cause. This might mean you would try not to kill innocent civilians.
What is meant by a reasonable chance of success?
It must be possible to win. Wars should not be fought against an opponent who is obviously more powerful.
