Ethics: War and Peace

Give 3 quotes suggesting Christians should be pacifists

• "Blessed are the peacemakers."

• "Turn the other cheek."

• "All who draw the sword will die by the sword."

What does Niebuhr suggest about Christian realism?

Peace is the ideal but war may be needed to prevent further evils. Some may suggest war is needed sometimes to protect the innocent.

What is liberation theology?

Rooted in Latin American theology, suggests oppressed groups have the right to resist their oppression non-peacefully.

What quote supports liberation theology?

"He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free." Luke 4:18

What Islamic quote promotes fighting but not aggression?

"Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress."

What is the difference between Greater and Lesser Jihad?

Greater Jihad is the personal struggle against sin, the Lesser Jihad is the fight in war.

Who developed Just War theory?

Augustine and Aquinas

Explain Just Cause

War has to have a moral justification behind it.

Explain Legitimate Authority

Only democratic or official heads of state/government leaders may declare war.

Explain Right Intention

War must aim to promote peace (similar to Just Cause) not for personal gratification.

Explain Probability of Success

War can only be fought if there is a high chance of success.

Explain Last Resort

War may only be used if all other methods of conflict resolution have been used up.

Explain Proportionality

The harm caused by/during war must be lower than the benefits.

What is Just ad bellum?

Justice before war

What is Just in bello?

Justice during war

What is Just post bello?

Justice after war

Explain Discrimination

Civilians cannot be targeted.

Explain Fair treatment of prisoners

No excessive punishment of prisoners (Backed by Geneva convention)

Explain Restoration of peace

Efforts must be made to rebuild society.

Explain Punishment of war crimes

Those committing atrocities (breaking Just War rules) should be punished accordingly.

Give 3 examples of historical wars related to Just War

WW2 (Just)
Iraq (Debateable over authority and reasoning behind it)
Russia/Ukraine (Injust on Russia’s part due to authority and reasoning)

2 issues with Nuclear wars due to Just War theory

• Causes complete destruction

• Deterrence vs. morality- can having the weapons be justified?

What are 3 types of pacifism?

• Absolute pacifism

• Selective pacifism

• Nuclear pacifism

Explain Absolute Pacifism

Totally opposed to conflict in any scenario.

Explain Selective Pacifism

Mostly opposed to conflict but believe it is sometimes necessary.

Explain Nuclear Pacifism

Opposed to nuclear weapons.

Give 3 examples of pacifist movements

• Pax Christi

• Quakers

• Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)

Give 2 challenges of pacifism

• Can pacifism prevent aggression?

• Is war not sometimes necessary for justice?

Give 2 successful pacifist movements/figures

• Ghandi

• Civil rights movement

How does Ghandi suggest pacifism isn’t as perfect as it seems?

His work took a long time to help anyone and many died while waiting, including over 400 people in a massacre in Amritsar.

Outline Thomas Hobbes (Realism)

Claimed war was inevitable due to humanity.

Outline Clauswitz (Realism)

Defined war as ‘the continuation of politics by other means.

Explain Leo Tolstoy

Argued violence directly contradicted Jesus’ teachings.

Outline Kant’s ‘Non-violence’ opinions

Said democratic nations are less likely to go to war, argued for ‘perpetual peace theory’.

Outline Utilitarianism in the context of war

War must be judged on consequence, if it causes greater unhappiness than happiness it is morally wrong.

Outline Karl Marx’s view on war

Saw it as a tool of capitalist oppression and thought peace was achievable through a proletariat uprising.

Give 2 strengths of Just War theory

• Clear ethical guidelines

• Distinguishes between unjust/just wars, showing not all are ethical

Give 2 weaknesses of Just War Theory

• Manipulated by politicians often

• Harder to apply in modern warfare

Give 2 strengths of practicality of pacifism

• Promotes peace

• Avoids destruction when followed

Give 2 weaknesses of the practicality of pacifism

• May not prevent aggressions

• Unrealistic in extreme circumstances

Give 2 points made by Augustine in Just War theory

• War can be justified IF it leads to peace

• Emphasised the importance of intention (deontological)

Give 2 points of Aquinas’ Just War theory

• Further developed the theory

• Introduced Just ad bello and Just in bello