Just War Theory

OUTLINE

belief in sanctity of life underlies just war theory

developed by Augustine + Aquinas

IUS AD BELLUM

criteria for deciding when going to war may be justifiable

• probability of success

• legitimate authority

• right intention

• just cause

• proportionality

IUS IN BELO

criteria for deciding how a war must be fought

• discrimination

• proportionality of means to ends

WMD - nuclear

• effects include heat, blast and radiation

• severe environmental damage - lasts thousands of years

• Example: Chernobyl explosion (1986)

WMD - biological

transmitted through contamination, bacteria, viruses - deadly effects

WMD - chemical

can cause injury, disability, and death to animals and humans

EXAMPLE: seen in the civil war in Syria

CHRSITIAN VIEWS - OPPOSITION

view such weapons as intrinsically evil

Pope Francis urged the abolition nuclear weapons

CHRSITIAN VIEWS - ACCEPTANCE

modern conventional warfare = almost as bad as ABC

such weapons should be reduced - international agreement

can’t be un-invented

important to renew Trident as deterrent

SE - 1945 nuclear attack was most loving thing for that situation

based on utilitarianism, agape and justice