Case Study: Just War Doctrine

Abstract

The paper explores the question of just war. For nations to wage war, there is a political, social, and moral necessity to justify such war. Consequently, the doctrine of just war then arose to ensure that nations could justify their declarations of war and armed conflict against other nations. However, as is expected, while the doctrine of just war has existed for centuries, it has also elicited debate for as long as it has existed. Rarely have people agreed on what war was just and what exactly being “just” means. There are questions as to whether the term is not just another political gimmick meant to allow nations to justify the death of millions of people. For example, a war, such as the second world war, that leads to the death of millions of people can be a just war regardless of its justifications on political grounds. Through the analysis of views of various authorities, including classical ones such as St. Thomas and St. Augustus, the paper will illustrate that the concept of any war being just is becoming an outdated precept as war is not consistent with the human need for love, peace, and justice.