Just War Theory
Lorena Clark
Schubert
Ethics - PHIL 2306-018
Nov 28, 2016
Fog In A Just War
When is war acceptable? That is the question that the Just War theory (jus bellum iustum) attempts to answer. Guided by an evolving set of criteria, this tradition attempts to provide a framework by which the both the reasons for a war and the combatants' behavior may be judged to be ethical and morally justifiable. This theory or doctrine, has roots in both philosophical and historical contexts, having been shaped by conventions and rules observed through ages of war as well as the thoughts of philosophers of those same ages. These principles are divided into two parts: 'the right to go to war' (jus ad bellum), which concerns itself with whether it is justifiable …show more content…
McNamara, McNamara offers his thoughts and insights on international relations, security, and lessons learned from recent U.S. conflicts. McNamara served as Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968, the longest period that anyone has ever held that position, and is regarded as the "architect of the Vietnam war" ("Robert McNamara"), the driving force behind the escalation of U.S. forces in Vietnam during that conflict. His unique viewpoint illuminates the difficulty of applying the Just War theory to specific conflicts in light of intelligence gathering, proportionality, and plain human …show more content…
In early August 1964, two separate attacks were reported on the destroyer USS Maddox. The first attack was confirmed, but no action was taken. In response to the second attack Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which led to the start of open warfare on North Vietnam. McNamara points out that the second attack turned out to be false radar images that were interpreted as torpedo attacks. "We were wrong, but we had in our minds a mindset that led to that action. And it carried such heavy costs. We see incorrectly or we see only half of the story at times," McNamara concludes. Military minds on the alert after the first attack were quick to misinterpret the data in a way that favored their predisposed notions of hostility, subverting the concept of the just cause
Schubert
Ethics - PHIL 2306-018
Nov 28, 2016
Fog In A Just War
When is war acceptable? That is the question that the Just War theory (jus bellum iustum) attempts to answer. Guided by an evolving set of criteria, this tradition attempts to provide a framework by which the both the reasons for a war and the combatants' behavior may be judged to be ethical and morally justifiable. This theory or doctrine, has roots in both philosophical and historical contexts, having been shaped by conventions and rules observed through ages of war as well as the thoughts of philosophers of those same ages. These principles are divided into two parts: 'the right to go to war' (jus ad bellum), which concerns itself with whether it is justifiable …show more content…
McNamara, McNamara offers his thoughts and insights on international relations, security, and lessons learned from recent U.S. conflicts. McNamara served as Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968, the longest period that anyone has ever held that position, and is regarded as the "architect of the Vietnam war" ("Robert McNamara"), the driving force behind the escalation of U.S. forces in Vietnam during that conflict. His unique viewpoint illuminates the difficulty of applying the Just War theory to specific conflicts in light of intelligence gathering, proportionality, and plain human …show more content…
In early August 1964, two separate attacks were reported on the destroyer USS Maddox. The first attack was confirmed, but no action was taken. In response to the second attack Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which led to the start of open warfare on North Vietnam. McNamara points out that the second attack turned out to be false radar images that were interpreted as torpedo attacks. "We were wrong, but we had in our minds a mindset that led to that action. And it carried such heavy costs. We see incorrectly or we see only half of the story at times," McNamara concludes. Military minds on the alert after the first attack were quick to misinterpret the data in a way that favored their predisposed notions of hostility, subverting the concept of the just cause