Philosophy of War

Paper Summary:

This paper begins by noting that war is not just a topic discussed simply in history textbooks but also a subject of philosophers. The paper then examines the positions of many philosophers, which serve as guidelines for the making of war. The paper discusses the theory, which President Bush used to go to war in Iraq, and to which the author is opposed. The author concludes that, today, the question arises as to what philosophy of war, if any, should be internationally adopted and for what reasons it should be followed, as a justifiable war may not be universal for all nations.

Table of Content:
Just War Theory
Just Ad Bellum & Jus In Bello
Realism
Pacifism
Justified Short-Of-War Force?
Judgement

From the Paper:

"There are many views that disagree with the Bush Doctrine. Primarily, it is a clear violation of international law. As stated previously, only the United Nations has the right to approve a state of war (The United Nations). Anup Shah writes within his article the many controversies surrounded with the Bush Doctrine. One major problem Shah notes is the disability of international peace when the United States when it withdrew from the Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty. This coincided the same time when the Bush Doctrine was released."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Fathers of the English Dominican Province. "Question 40.War." The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas. 1920. 12 Nov 2006 http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3040.htm
• Kant, Immanuel . "Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch." 4 Apr 2006. Mount Holyoke College. 12 Nov 2006 <http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/kant/kant1.htm>.
• Locke, John. Two Treatises of Government. McMaster University Archive of the History of EconomicThought., 2000.
• Maiese, Michelle . "Jus In Bello." Beyond Intractability. June 2003. 12 Nov 2006 <http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/jus_in_bello/>.
• Moseley, Alexander. "Just War Theory." The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2006. 6 Nov 2006 <http://www.iep.utm.edu/j/justwar.htm>.

More papers on Philosophy of War:

• Essay # 56037 : "Philosophy of War"
• Term Paper # 100999 : "Walter Benjamin's "Theses on the Philosophy of History"
• Analytical Essay # 134610 : "America's Theory and Practice of War"

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