Just Wars: Wars Others Start
There is no simple answer for the causes of war, but many would probably attribute the ferocity and frequency of war to religious zealotry, especially with our current “war on terror.” The Crusades and other wars are marked by unmerciful slaughter that, paradoxically, has often been followed by the conviction that “God is on our side” While religion has helped fuel many regional and local wars, it only played a minor role in most of the wars of the twentieth century, which are often attributed to nationalism or the arms race that preceded certain wars (for example, both the World Wars). Oftentimes, when there is a problem, we seek to find a solution, which is what many philosophers and theologians have done. Clearly, …show more content…
The origins of just war theory are usually traced to the early writings of Saint Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Aristotle. The doctrine of the just war holds that, under certain circumstances a war can be “good” and serves the welfare of a nation in the cause of justice—essentially the motivation has to come from seeking justice. However, the theory has sets of criteria that involve law leading up to legal war, laws the govern fighting a legal war, and law governing effects after war. First, Jus Ad Bellum or justification for going to war includes four main postulates that must be met that include war being a last resort, has to be declared by a legitimate authority, must be waged in self-defense or to establish/restore justice, and must be fought to bring about peace (in other words, motivation must be just). Second, Jus In Bello, directing how combatants should act during war, includes distinction and proportionality. In other words, just war must distinguish between combatants and noncombatants, no fighting civilians. In addition, the amount of force should be proportionate to the threat. Thirdly, the criteria for Jus Post Bellum hold the same two rules as Jus In Bello, which are distinction and proportionality. Distinction needs to be made between civilian and military as well as political and military because we can only punish those responsible. Moreover, terms of surrender must be proportional to the rights initially violated; no punishing revenge surrender. As long as all these standards are met and are abided by, a war can be considered
There is no simple answer for the causes of war, but many would probably attribute the ferocity and frequency of war to religious zealotry, especially with our current “war on terror.” The Crusades and other wars are marked by unmerciful slaughter that, paradoxically, has often been followed by the conviction that “God is on our side” While religion has helped fuel many regional and local wars, it only played a minor role in most of the wars of the twentieth century, which are often attributed to nationalism or the arms race that preceded certain wars (for example, both the World Wars). Oftentimes, when there is a problem, we seek to find a solution, which is what many philosophers and theologians have done. Clearly, …show more content…
The origins of just war theory are usually traced to the early writings of Saint Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Aristotle. The doctrine of the just war holds that, under certain circumstances a war can be “good” and serves the welfare of a nation in the cause of justice—essentially the motivation has to come from seeking justice. However, the theory has sets of criteria that involve law leading up to legal war, laws the govern fighting a legal war, and law governing effects after war. First, Jus Ad Bellum or justification for going to war includes four main postulates that must be met that include war being a last resort, has to be declared by a legitimate authority, must be waged in self-defense or to establish/restore justice, and must be fought to bring about peace (in other words, motivation must be just). Second, Jus In Bello, directing how combatants should act during war, includes distinction and proportionality. In other words, just war must distinguish between combatants and noncombatants, no fighting civilians. In addition, the amount of force should be proportionate to the threat. Thirdly, the criteria for Jus Post Bellum hold the same two rules as Jus In Bello, which are distinction and proportionality. Distinction needs to be made between civilian and military as well as political and military because we can only punish those responsible. Moreover, terms of surrender must be proportional to the rights initially violated; no punishing revenge surrender. As long as all these standards are met and are abided by, a war can be considered