Brief Summary: The Ethics Of War
Just War
PHI 208
Dr. David Tredinnick
May 5, 2014
Just War
War is an organized and often prolonged conflict that is carried out by states or non-state actors. It is characterized by extreme violence, social disruption and economic destruction. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread-armed conflict between political communities, and, therefore, is defined as a form of political violence or intervention. The set of techniques used by a group to carry out war is known as warfare. Ethics of war can be a sensitive and debated subject. I believe that there are times when a war is justified. Three topics I would like to discuss are: what kind of virtues do people in the military …show more content…
The acts of war
Involve killing and this could lead to an internal conflict with the Soldiers moral values. Not too
many people can kill someone else without feeling some guilt whether it happens immediately or
later in time when they have time to pause and think about what happened. There may be times when a leader could give an order that is morally unethical. It is the Soldiers discretion as to whether or not to follow those orders. The military has its own set of laws that must be followed and there are also rules of war that must be followed. The Soldier can decide to disobey the immoral orders at risk of being punished if the orders end up being permissible. Ethical training and counseling will help ensure that the Soldiers internal conflict is addressed. “Moral relativism is often characterized in terms of cultures, and cultural anthropologists have identified many practices that contrast, and even conflict” (Mosser, 2013). The United States Military is made …show more content…
It is characterized by extreme violence, social disruption and economic destruction. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread-armed conflict between political communities, and, therefore, is defined as a form of political violence or intervention. Rules need to be in place because of the unpredictable violent nature of a war. This is where ethics comes into play. The purpose of war ethics is to decide what is right or wrong both for individuals or Nations. Ethics will also lead to debates on public policy, government, and individual action. Some questions that arise are: Do people in the military need to possess certain virtues? Yes, there will be times when a Soldiers moral ethics will be challenged. Aristotle stated, “A temperate person is moderate and has self-control”. These are important and needed qualities in a Soldier. Are there times during the war when Soldiers virtues will be conflicted? Yes, “Moral relativism is often characterized in terms of cultures, and cultural anthropologists have identified many practices that contrast, and even conflict” (Mosser, 2013). The United States military is comprised of many Soldiers with different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Because of this, there will be many challenges that will be met on the quest for one common goal. When is a war justified or unjustified? That question will most
PHI 208
Dr. David Tredinnick
May 5, 2014
Just War
War is an organized and often prolonged conflict that is carried out by states or non-state actors. It is characterized by extreme violence, social disruption and economic destruction. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread-armed conflict between political communities, and, therefore, is defined as a form of political violence or intervention. The set of techniques used by a group to carry out war is known as warfare. Ethics of war can be a sensitive and debated subject. I believe that there are times when a war is justified. Three topics I would like to discuss are: what kind of virtues do people in the military …show more content…
The acts of war
Involve killing and this could lead to an internal conflict with the Soldiers moral values. Not too
many people can kill someone else without feeling some guilt whether it happens immediately or
later in time when they have time to pause and think about what happened. There may be times when a leader could give an order that is morally unethical. It is the Soldiers discretion as to whether or not to follow those orders. The military has its own set of laws that must be followed and there are also rules of war that must be followed. The Soldier can decide to disobey the immoral orders at risk of being punished if the orders end up being permissible. Ethical training and counseling will help ensure that the Soldiers internal conflict is addressed. “Moral relativism is often characterized in terms of cultures, and cultural anthropologists have identified many practices that contrast, and even conflict” (Mosser, 2013). The United States Military is made …show more content…
It is characterized by extreme violence, social disruption and economic destruction. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread-armed conflict between political communities, and, therefore, is defined as a form of political violence or intervention. Rules need to be in place because of the unpredictable violent nature of a war. This is where ethics comes into play. The purpose of war ethics is to decide what is right or wrong both for individuals or Nations. Ethics will also lead to debates on public policy, government, and individual action. Some questions that arise are: Do people in the military need to possess certain virtues? Yes, there will be times when a Soldiers moral ethics will be challenged. Aristotle stated, “A temperate person is moderate and has self-control”. These are important and needed qualities in a Soldier. Are there times during the war when Soldiers virtues will be conflicted? Yes, “Moral relativism is often characterized in terms of cultures, and cultural anthropologists have identified many practices that contrast, and even conflict” (Mosser, 2013). The United States military is comprised of many Soldiers with different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Because of this, there will be many challenges that will be met on the quest for one common goal. When is a war justified or unjustified? That question will most