War and peace

Question 1

How can war be defined?

Answer 1

1. Conflict between two or more states. 2. Civil war between citizens of the same country. 3. Guerrilla- armed civilians use tactics like sabotage to fight a larger army.

Question 2

What are the three approaches to war?

Answer 2

1. Pacifism- war is always wrong. 2. Just war theory- war can be justified if it meets a criteria. 3. Realism- ethics has nothing to do with war and normal rules don’t apply.

Question 3

How is war seen in the Old Testament?

Answer 3

God seems to sanction it, it is moral if commanded by him.

Question 4

How is war seen in the New Testament?

Answer 4

It speaks of defeating evil, god’s judgment and the end of the world.

Question 5

What is realism?

Answer 5

Some Christians have abandoned pacifism for this, it assumes humans are self centered and competitive and sees war as a horrible thing that can bring benefits.

Question 6

What do realists argue about moral conduct in war?

Answer 6

Normal moral rules don’t apply in war, if a state wants to go to war, it does not need a moral reason to do so and countries should not be condemned for the way they fight a war.

Question 7

What did Reinhold Niebuhr argue in ‘moral man and society’

Answer 7

Human nature is evil, sometimes force needs to be used to maintain order in society. Moral rules don’t apply in war as countries have special rights.

Question 8

What did Niebuhr say about pacifism?

Answer 8

It is heresy that assumes love will conquer all, pacifists expect god’s will to prevail without them having to do anything about it.

Question 9

How did just war theory come about?

Answer 9

313AD- emperor Constantine declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. 410AD- Rome loosing its grip on the empire as Christians were refusing to fight. Augustine thus came up with the idea of just war theory, war is moral is god commands it and since the emperor is god’s representative on earth, it is moral if he commands it.

Question 10

What are the three main features of just war theory?

Answer 10

1. An attempt to provide a moral framework for war. 2. Jus ad bellum- just cause for war. 3. Jus in bello- just conduct in war.

Question 11

What are the five criteria for jus ad bellum?

Answer 11

1. Just cause- response to an act of aggression. 2. Right intention- protecting oil deposits is not a right intention. 3. Probability of success- seems to suggest only strong nations can wage war. 4. Legitimate authority- USA said it had LA to invade Iraq as its government was elected. 5. Last resort- 2003 invasion of Iraq was not a last resort.

Question 12

What did aquinas add to jus ad bellum?

Answer 12

Probability of success- the odds of a war achieving its aims must be high.

Question 13

What is jus post bellum?

Answer 13

Victory shouldn’t provide a license for imposing harsh measures, trials of war criminals should be held in neutral countries- people need to answer for atrocities committed. Imposing alternative regimes wouldn’t be constructive for peace or rehabilitation.

Question 14

What are the three criteria for jus in bello?

Answer 14

1. Discrimination- only attack combatants. 2. Proportionality- offensive actions should be proportional to the desired objective. 3. Responsibility- should a nation be held accountable for unforeseen consequences in a war, what about those who claim they were just following orders?

Question 15

Give five strengths of just war theory

Answer 15

1. Allows the defense of the defenseless. 2. Recognizes the need for action against an aggressor. 3. Does not allow wars for self interest. 4. Is flexible. 5. Can be applied to weapons of mass destruction.

Question 16

Give four weaknesses of just war theory

Answer 16

1. Unrealistic. 2. Too simple and ambiguous. 3. Weapons of mass destruction require a different approach. 4. Does not work for acts of terrorism.

Question 17

What is pacifism?

Answer 17

Violence is always wrong, disputes should be settled peacefully and force is wrong to use. Absolute pacifism- war is always wrong. Relative pacifism- war is wrong, but can be the lesser of two evils.

Question 18

What events helped support for pacifism to grow?

Answer 18

Conscription in WWI, the impact of WWII on Europe and the creation of nuclear weapons.

Question 19

Was Jesus a pacifist?

Answer 19

He did not use force against aggressors, he told his followers to love neighbors and forgive enemies, even when being tortured, he did not react. Early Christians modeled themselves on him.

Question 20

What is a conscientious objector?

Answer 20

Someone who refuses to go to war out of conscience. During Vietnam, the USA introduced conscription and prosecuted 9,000 men 1963-73 for refusing to serve.

Question 21

Give an example of a famous conscientious objector

Answer 21

Muhammad Ali refused to serve in Vietnam, he was banned from boxing and stripped of his title.

Question 22

Who were Gandhi and Martin Luther king?

Answer 22

Famous pacifists who advocated direct non violence against injustice. Gandhi won India independence and King was instrumental in the passage of the civil rights act.

Question 23

Who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer?

Answer 23

German Christian, argued that pacifism was wrong in the case of extreme evil like Hitler. Not trying to stop Hitler was like condoning his actions. Executed in 1944 after trying to assassinate Hitler.

Question 24

What is the difference between active and selective pacifism?

Answer 24

Active- political engagement through campaigns to promote peace. Selective- pacifist about certain wars and actions.

Question 25

Give an example of relative pacifism?

Answer 25

Einstein and Russell, who opposed war, argued that in the case of Hitler, war was a necessary evil.

Question 26

What is nuclear pacifism?

Answer 26

Opposes nuclear weapons, as indiscriminate killers, they are always wrong to use. They go against the rules of just war and can never be justified. The CND argues for unilateral nuclear disarmament.

Question 27

What is nuclear pacifism?

Answer 27

Nuclear war seems incompatible with the principles of just war, CND advocates pacifism and nuclear disarmament. It is wrong to hold nuclear weapons to owing to the scale of destruction they could cause.

Question 28

Give three strengths of pacifism

Answer 28

1. Clearly cut and opposes all forms of violence. 2. Follows the teachings of Jesus which just war theory ignores. 3. Promotes the absolute value of human life.

Question 29

Give four weaknesses of pacifism

Answer 29

1. Allows evil to dominate. 2. A state has a duty to protect its citizens, we have a duty to protect others. 3. Anscombe- it denies the right to self defense. 4. Overly idealistic and does not work in today’s world.

Question 30

How would utilitarianism look at jus in bello?

Answer 30

1. It would justify war if it would lead to the most happiness for the most people. 2. Principle of utility would allow torture for the greater good, rule utilitarianism would not. 3. Act utilitarianism would use the most effective weapons, rule utilitarianism would look at restricting them.