Date of Award
4-22-2009
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Philosophy
First Advisor
Andrew Altman - Chair
Second Advisor
Sebastian Rand
Third Advisor
Andrew J. Cohen
Abstract
The permissible use of defensive force is a central tenet of the traditional legal and philosophical justification for war and its practice. Just War Theory holds a nation’s right to resist aggressive attack with defensive force as the clearest example of a just cause for war. Just War Theory also stipulates norms for warfare derived from a conception of defensive force asserted to be consistent with the moral reality of war. Recently, these aspects of Just War Theory have been criticized. David Rodin has challenged the status of national defense as an uncontroversial just cause. Jeff McMahan has charged that Just War Theory’s norms that govern warfare are inconsistent with the norms of permissive defensive force. In this thesis I defend the status of national defense as a clear case of a just cause. However, my defense may require revision of Just War Theory’s norms that govern warfare.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/1059787
Recommended Citation
Underwood III, Maj Robert E., "The Moral Reality of War: Defensive Force and Just War Theory." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2009.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/1059787