War and PeaceWar and Peace

Aims for this lesson:Aims for this lesson:

Review Just War principlesReview Just War principles Consider Consider PacifismPacifism and and RealismRealism

NB Some exercises here from Robert Bowie NB Some exercises here from Robert Bowie Ethical Studies Ethical Studies (2nd edition, Nelson (2nd edition, Nelson Thornes, 2004) can be used for Thornes, 2004) can be used for discussion. discussion.

Just War – the origins and key Just War – the origins and key playersplayers

AristotleAristotle 4 4thth C BCE – war for self defence is C BCE – war for self defence is just (Early Christians were pacifist before just (Early Christians were pacifist before Constantine converts in 312 AD)Constantine converts in 312 AD)

Early Christian thinkers – Early Christian thinkers – AugustineAugustine and and AmbroseAmbrose war is justified to defend threats war is justified to defend threats against the faith. Use OT as example.against the faith. Use OT as example.

And this leads to…And this leads to…

St Thomas Aquinas 13St Thomas Aquinas 13thth C C

Conditions for when it’s right to fight – called Conditions for when it’s right to fight – called ‘jus ad bellum’‘jus ad bellum’::

Right authorityRight authority Just Cause Just Cause (eg self-defence, defence of (eg self-defence, defence of

others)others) Just IntentionJust Intention (eg seeking peace) (eg seeking peace)

Check what these mean – pages 279-280 Check what these mean – pages 279-280 in Bowie (2in Bowie (2ndnd edition 2004) edition 2004)

““A just war is wont to be described as one A just war is wont to be described as one that avenges wrongs, when a nation or that avenges wrongs, when a nation or state has to be punished for wrongs state has to be punished for wrongs inflicted by its subjects”.inflicted by its subjects”.

Aquinas Summa Theologica II-II Q40Aquinas Summa Theologica II-II Q40

Further Further ‘jus ad bellum’‘jus ad bellum’ conditions: conditions:

1616 th + 17th th + 17th C – C – Francisco Suarez Francisco Suarez and and Franciso Franciso de Vittoriade Vittoria

Last resort Last resort – Falklands War?– Falklands War? Reasonable chance of Reasonable chance of successsuccess ProportionalityProportionality (eg disproportional to go to (eg disproportional to go to

war over fishing rights)war over fishing rights)

How war should be fought – How war should be fought – ‘jus in ‘jus in bello’bello’

Proportionality Proportionality – read the explanations – – read the explanations – relate it to the recent Gulf Warrelate it to the recent Gulf War

DiscriminationDiscrimination over targets – why is this over targets – why is this increasingly relevant?increasingly relevant?

Evaluating Just WarEvaluating Just War

accepts that war is sometimes accepts that war is sometimes necessarynecessary but… but… maintains maintains moralmoral principles principles retains respect for human retains respect for human rightsrights

CriticismsCriticisms from realists: from realists: War is more War is more complicatedcomplicated than this – no single ‘just than this – no single ‘just

cause’ eg 2009 Gaza Conflictcause’ eg 2009 Gaza Conflict Can’t always Can’t always predictpredict outcomes – Vietnam, length of Gulf outcomes – Vietnam, length of Gulf

War etcWar etc Unrealistic to expect fighters to be Unrealistic to expect fighters to be moralmoral thinkers eg thinkers eg

Gaza fighting in civilian areas against guerillas.Gaza fighting in civilian areas against guerillas. Who is the Who is the innocentinnocent civilian? civilian?

TaskTask

Choose one each of the situations on Choose one each of the situations on page 283- think, justify, share for page 283- think, justify, share for discussion in three minutesdiscussion in three minutes

Jus post bellumJus post bellum

ProportionalityProportionality (don’t humiliate eg 1918) (don’t humiliate eg 1918) DiscriminationDiscrimination (punish leaders, not (punish leaders, not

civilians)civilians) Financial aid Financial aid (eg US Marshall Plan)(eg US Marshall Plan) RehabilitationRehabilitation (eg new constitution, (eg new constitution,

guarantees of rights, police reform etc)guarantees of rights, police reform etc)

PacifismPacifismInspired by:Inspired by:

BuddhistBuddhist principles principles The example of The example of JesusJesus – rejecting option of force even is – rejecting option of force even is

self defence eg “Love your enemies”.self defence eg “Love your enemies”.

Recent pacifists who have both argued for non violent Recent pacifists who have both argued for non violent resistance’:resistance’:

Gandhi – “Gandhi – “I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.””

Desmond TutuDesmond Tutu

Criticisms of PacifismCriticisms of Pacifism

Takes right to decide away from victim.Takes right to decide away from victim. Some people appear to be Some people appear to be evilevil – e.g. the – e.g. the

holocaust – and will not be affected by holocaust – and will not be affected by Non Violent Resistance.Non Violent Resistance.

The examples of pacifists being The examples of pacifists being conquered by ruthless powers (see page conquered by ruthless powers (see page 284)284)

Christian RealismChristian Realism

Reinhold Niebuhr ‘Moral Man and Immoral Reinhold Niebuhr ‘Moral Man and Immoral Society’ (1932)Society’ (1932)

Human nature is Human nature is evilevil – therefore force is – therefore force is necessary to maintain societynecessary to maintain society

States have States have differentdifferent moral rules to individuals moral rules to individuals Pacifism is a Pacifism is a heresyheresy – Love will not guarantee – Love will not guarantee

victory!!victory!! God’s will requires us to be God’s will requires us to be pro-activepro-active in the in the

worldworld

Conclusion:Conclusion:

Pacifism seems to deny the individual self Pacifism seems to deny the individual self defence and history shows it is not always defence and history shows it is not always successfulsuccessful and what’s more, can end in and what’s more, can end in atrocities.atrocities.

Realism permits states too much Realism permits states too much freedom freedom – surely there should be limitations?– surely there should be limitations?

Follow up TasksFollow up Tasks

Tasks 1-6 on page 285 (Bowie 2Tasks 1-6 on page 285 (Bowie 2ndnd ed) ed)