War and Morality

Catalog description

When is a nation justified in going to war, or are we morally obliged to refrain from killing others? Ought decisions to wage war be constrained by morality at all? And, in the event that war is sometimes justified, are there restrictions upon what soldiers are permitted to do in war? This course will explore a range of possible answers to these questions. After a brief overview of contemporary moral theory, students will discuss arguments for and against pacifism and realism and then turn their attention to a middle-ground answer, just war theory, which attempts to place moral limits on the practice of war. PREREQ: PHI 1000 .