JUST WAR

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Even though the just war theory could be considered a consequence of an action or a series of actions, the violence involved in its conduct is and will always be at odds with the basic values of civilization. Nevertheless, the just war theory asserts the act of war may, under certain circumstances, be morally justified. While the theory is divided into several sections, I will only be focusing on the “jus ad bellum” section or the justice to resort to war that concerns the morality of going to war. For war to be just, it must be conducted in order to resist aggression, to prevent the annihilation of a populace, and fought with the right intention, thus affirming a just cause making the just war theory deontological rather than consequentialist.
While some theorists assert the just war theory ignores the consequences of war, which are death and destruction, the theory includes several conditions that prohibit entering a war if its consequences are in any way undesirable. The jus ad bellum section asserts that a war must have a reasonable hope for success while achieving just cause and other significant benefits. If it does not, then the purpose of the war is wrong. Moreover, if a war does accomplish its intended benefits, it will be wrong if the destruction it creates is unwarranted, or greater than the benefits. Also, the just war theory includes a last resort condition that prohibits war if its benefits although significant could have been achieved by diplomacy or less destructive means. In order to support my claim, I will circumvent consequentialism by differentiating between the types of benefits and harms and saying only some are relevant to the assessment of a war while others are not.
Consequentialism considers benefits ...

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... it does not do so in a consequentialist fashion, it may consider certain benefits relevant if they result in one way from a war but not if they result in another, and may discount harms if they include certain choices, thus affirming a just cause. However, the just war theory asserts the act of war may, under certain circumstances, be morally justified for going to war making the just war theory deontological rather than consequentialist.

Works Cited

Labaton, A. (Producer) & Schindler, M. (Director). (2002). Religion, war, and violence: The ethics of war and peace [Documentary]. Retrieved from Films On Demand database.
Mosser, K. (2014). Understanding philosophy. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Westmont TV. (2013, March 7). What is just war theory, Michael Walzer, Feb. 21, 2013 [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f4XuOkMCSA

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