Verified Document

Just War Essay

Just War THE TWO FACES OF WAR

The Theory

The basic and universal sentiment is that war assaults people's rights to life, security, subsistence, peace and liberty (Lacewing, 2012). Some contend, however, that war is just under certain conditions, which morally justify it. This Theory consists of three parts, namely the justice of resorting to war or jus ad bellum; just conduct in war or jus in bello; and justice at the end of war or jus post bellum. The justice basis of resorting to war is grounded on six criteria, which justify it. It has a just cause. It has the right intention. It is made through the proper authority. It is made as a last resort. It has a probability of success. And it has a proportionate response. Justice in war refers to the treatment of the enemy. There is justice if weapons prohibited by international law are not used. Only combatants may be targeted and only with the minimum use of force. Military force should be proportionate to the accomplishment of the just end. The prisoners of war must receive human treatment once captured. Intrinsically evil...

Military forces may not break these rules even if the enemy is doing so. And justice at the end of war requires the securing of the rights of those whose violation justified the war. The declaration of peace must be made through the proper authority. Justice governs the peace settlement on a reasonable basis, not as a form of revenge. Public and international trials for war crimes shall be conducted (Lacewing). But strictly speaking, I disagree to any kind of war.
History and Benefits of the Theory

This Theory evolved over time from military principles on philosophy, theology and politics (Jackson-Arnautu, 2012). The Catholic Church has fully adopted it as an acceptable way of applying military force. It appears to have been drawn from moral concerns and to dictate behaviors when this was deemed morally necessary. Roman philosopher Marcus Tillius Cicero and St. Thomas Aquinas are considered the early authors of the Theory (Jackson-Arnautu). They set the foundation for thousands of years whereby…

Sources used in this document:
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Buell, J. (2002). Just war theory and the wars of the 20th century. Vol 11, Yale-New

Haven Teachers Institute. Retrieved on June 16, 2012 from http://www.yale-edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2002/3/02.03.01.x.html

Chavez, F.B. III (2012). Legitimate use of military force. eHow: Demand Media, Inc.

Retrieved on June 16, 2012 from http://www.ehow.com/facts_6869777_legitimate-use-military-force.html
Retrieved on June 28, 2012 from http://www.ehow.com/about_45717118_just-war-theory.html
Lacewing, M. (2012). Just war theory. Taylor & Francis Group: Routledge. Retrieved on June 26, 2012 from http://www.cw.routledge.com/textbooks/philosophy/downloads/a2/unit3/poliical-philosophy/JustWarTheory.pdf
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

War Society Modern World War Has Been
Words: 1559 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

War Society Modern World War has been an integral part of the development of our civilization from the earliest times. It is estimated that there are more than 14,000 wars that have occurred since events began to be recorded and this has resulted in the death of billions of people. It was an essential part of the survival and behavior of human beings and the society at large. This attitude continued

War of the Roses
Words: 1770 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

War of the Roses can be considered to be the bloodiest conflict fought in England to date. Beginning in 1455 and ending in 1487, the conflict was rooted in a struggle between the heirs of King Edward III and King Henry IV, who were divided into the House of Lancaster, represented by a red rose, and the House of York, represented by a white rose, hence, the conflict being commonly

War and Death When Considering
Words: 3476 Length: 10 Document Type: Research Paper

This is not to suggest that either the United States or the Soviet Union were necessarily desiring this conflict, because "based on the scattered evidence now available from Soviet archives," Stalin was "wary and reluctant" in his support of the North, and only finally agreed to offer military equipment and advice when it became clear that China would intervene should the Soviet Union fail to offer support (Cumings 144).

War on Drugs for Roughly
Words: 1625 Length: 6 Document Type: Research Paper

Books and television shows, such as the Corner, provide illustrations that can give a level of insight as to why this is the case. It is not drugs alone, but also the drug culture and the level of poverty that stands at the heart of the problem. You cannot simply remove drugs from the equation. Even if you confiscate drugs then the street price rises and more drugs are

War on Terror Although the Rhetoric on
Words: 1503 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

War on Terror Although the rhetoric on the War on Terror has subsided somewhat since Bush left office, terrorism itself remains an unfortunate reality around the world. The War on Terror was largely a propaganda machine, which perpetuated a cultural climate of fear. As Coaty points out in Understanding the War on Terror, fear-mongering is destructive rhetoric. In the end, too much fear-driven crisis leads to uninformed and ill-devised political strategies.

War on Terror & Human Rights the
Words: 1468 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

War on Terror & Human Rights The so-called "war on terror" -- initiated by former president George W. Bush after 9/11 -- has not succeeded in ending terrorism but it opened the door to numerous violations of human rights. A survey of verifiable, peer-reviewed sources in the literature show clearly that the Bush Administration and members of the military under Bush's command carried out human rights violations in the name of

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now