War and peace

‘Just War’(sometimes, war is the morally right thing to do): 

• Jus ad bellum:

Proper authority

Just cause

Right intention

Last resort

Proportionality

Win possible

Comparative justice

• Jus in bello:

Discrimination' - that innocent people should not be targeted. 

'Proportionality

• Jus post bello:

Restoration of human rights

Bringing the way criminals to justice

Defeated country opportunity to reform

Strengths of JWT:

• Flexible theory which grows and develops with the times
• Recognizes the necessity for action against an aggressor
• Allows defense of the defenseless
• Doesn't allow acts of war because of selfish reasons (interest of one nation)
• Universal

Weaknesses:

• Says that violence is permitted, but morality must always oppose deliberate violence
• Unrealistic as the strong and powerful will always win (Bertrand Russell- it doesn't show who's right, just who's left)
• Conditions are too simplistic and ambiguous to apply in practice
• Many wars are only considered just in hindsight

Ethical and religious pacifism
Pacifism is where the answer is (mostly) always the same - war is always wrong and there is always a better solution than fighting. 
Absolute pacifism: all war is wrong: it is never right to kill another human being, no matter what the consequences of not doing so might be, even loss of life.  
Contingent pacifism: War as we know it cannot be waged in a morally acceptable way: all wars today involve killing of the innocent and this is morally unjustifiable. Allows self-defense and defense for others but the innocent must always be protected and therefore accepts violence/war in some circumstances. Pacifists see killing of innocent as morally unjustifiable - no matter what consequences. E.g. Bertrand Russell- war doesn't show who's right, but who's left. Taking human life can never be justified
Religious pacifism: teachings of Jesus: turn the other cheek, love your enemy. Non violent direct action advocated by Martin Luther King Jr. The loss of life, economic, and social damage is too great.  
Strengths of Pacifism:

• Clear cut as it opposes all forms of violence
• Follows teachings of Jesus (ignored by JWT)
• Promotes absolute view of human life

Weaknesses of Pacifism:

• Pacifism is wrong as it denies the right of self-defence
• The country has a duty to protect its citizens
• Allows evil to dominate (e.g. if we hadn't fought Nazis would we be under their rule?)

Realism: 
Ethics has nothing to do with war. They have no application to nations in times of war. To survive, a nation must look at its own interests, and the threat of war and war itself may make it impossible for any nation  to do anything but act in their own interest. War is often necessary to promote security, survival and economic growth. Accepts that war is a necessary evil. This and JWT allow war when other avenues have failed
Ethical Theories:
Utilitarianism: War is fine if it produces more happiness than pain. Oppose war if loss of life is too great. They may reassess their position as the war progresses. Likelihood success from the just war criterion may be used. End justifies the means. A utilitarian would not support selfish motives e.g the war in Iraq- oil
Kant: Kant would not support needlessly going to war, as it would mean willing that I 
might be shot, which is contrary to the will. support declaring war in defense of others 


and that could be universalized. Also, Kant would say to never treat humanity "merely as a 


means to an end". However, soldiers are fighting for their own safety and are paid. If they


had no vested interest in making the world a safer place, then they would be merely


being used. 
Natural Law: Primary precept: protect and preserve the innocent would justify going to war in order to defend others. However they would probably criticize war because of the way they are fought and the lack of respect for humans. Another primary precept is living in an ordered society. If an attack threatens the structure and authority of a society, it may justify a retaliation. However most of Natural Law is based on the Sanctity of Life(all life is sacred). It is impossible to fight in a war without innocent people being killed.