War and peace Flashcards
What are the three approaches to war?
- Just war theory- war can be justified if it meets a certain criteria. 2. Realism- ethics is nothing to do with war and normal rules do not ply too it. 3. Pacifism- war is always wrong.
What is realism?
Some Christians have abandoned pacifism for this, it assumes that humans are self centered and competitive and sees war as a horrible thing that can bring benefits .
What do realists argue about moral conduct during war?
Normal moral rules cannot apply in times of war. If a state wants to go to war, it does not need a moral reason and countries should not be criticized for the way in which they fight the war.
What did Reinhold Niebuhr argue in ‘moral man and society’?
Human nature is evil and sometimes force needs to be used to maintain an ordered society. Moral rules do not apply in times of war as countries have special rights.
What did Niebuhr say about pacifism?
He rejected it as heresy which assumes love will conquer all, pacifists expect god’s will to prevail without them doing anything about it.
How did just war theory come about?
Emperor Constantine declared Christianity the religion of the Roman Empire in 313AD, by 410AD Rome was loosing its grip on its empire because Christian pacifists were refusing to fight. Augustine thus came up with the idea of just war theory, if god (or his representative on earth, the emperor) commanded it, it was moral.
Explain the five criteria for jus ad bellum
- Just cause- a response to an act of aggression. 2. Last resort- many argued that the 2003 invasion of Iraq was not the last resort. 3. Legitimate authority- USA argued that it had LA to invade Iraq as it had a democratically elected government. 4. Right intention- protecting oil deposits is not right intention. 5. Probability of success- seems to suggest that only strong countries can wage war.
Give five strengths of just war theory
- It is flexible. 2. It recognizes the need for action against an aggressor. 3. It allows the defense of the defenseless. 4. It does not allow acts of war just because they benefit a nation. 5. It can be applied to weapons of mass destruction.
Explain the three criteria for jus in bello
- Discrimination- you must only attack combatants. 2. Proportionality- any offensive action should be proportional to the objective desired. 3. Responsibility- should a nation be held accountable to unforeseen consequences of a war? What about nazis who argued that they were just following orders?
What is pacifism?
Violence is always wrong, disputes should be settled peacefully and force is wrong to use in any circumstance. Absolute pacifists say that violence is always wrong, relative pacifism argue that war is wrong, but at times may be the lesser of two evils.
Was Jesus a pacifist?
He did not use force against his aggressors, he told his followers to love their neighbors and to forgive their enemies, even when he was being tortured, he did not react, early Christians modeled themselves on him.
Give four weaknesses of just war theory
- It is unrealistic. 2. It is too simple and ambiguous. 3. Weapons of mass destruction demand a diff rta approach. 4. It does not work with terrorism.
What is a conscientious objector?
Someone who refuses to go to war out of conscience. During Vietnam, the USA had to introduce conscription and between 1963-73, 9,000 men were prosecuted fro refusing to serve in the army.
Give an example of a famous conscientious objector
Muhammad Ali refused to serve in the Vietnam war, he was stripped of his title and banned from boxing.
Who were Gandhi and Martin Luther king?
Famous pacifists who advocated direct non violence against injustice. Gandhi succeeded in wining India independence and King was instrumental in the passage of the civil rights act.
