W7.1 - Walzer, Noncombatant Immunity

Question 1

Why are soldiers are not immune from harm

Answer 1

they bear arms. even if options are limited, they are responsible for their conduct.

Question 2

what are ‘naked soldiers’

Answer 2

soldiers not engaged in combat. for walzer it is superogatory not to kill an unarmed soldier

Question 3

what does walzer say about the classes of noncombatants

Answer 3

civilians who directly contribute to the war effort can be killed when it is militarily necessary. e.g. workers in a tank factory but NOT food processors

Question 4

describe the doctrine of double effect

Answer 4

Noncombatants can be killed if four conditions hold
the act is a legitimate act of war,
the direct effect is morally acceptable
the actor’s intentions are good as he aims only at an acceptable effect
the good effect is proportional to the evil done

Question 5

what does walzer say about the DDE.

Answer 5

Walzer takes issue with the third condition, the actor’s intentions, and proposes a revision to the principle. It is not enough to not intend the deaths of civilians. There must instead be a double intention, for the good achieved and to reduce evil as much as possible, and the military must accept costs and risks to ensure this reduction of evil.

the military aims narrowly at the good effect and seeks to minimize the evil, accepting costs and risks to itself in so doing

Question 6

Advantages/disadvantages of Walzer’s revised DDE

Answer 6

• Cases where field has to be left
• Difficulty to motivate soldiers to protect enemy civilians
• Having to take extra measures to protect enemy civilians = impractical
• insurgents hiding among civilians
  For civilians
• Could lead to more human shields, hostages
• civilian life: protected

Question 7

Does DDE make fighting wars more difficult

Answer 7

Seemingly makes for more just but more difficult wars
- at what point does prolonging a war to protect civilians make it no longer just

Question 8

General McCrystal case study

Answer 8

case study in Afghanistan. taliban fighters on roof. US armyin opposite building. new rules implemented by general McChrystal - cant call an airstrike if you do not know who is in the building. solution: go into building, fire from opposite roof, pull back and leave people on the field.

Question 9

Walzer vs Hurka

Answer 9

walzer - their citizens over our soliders. walzer - JIB & JAB = independent.