LOGOS War essay

Submitted By 20123020
Words: 1313
Pages: 6
Open Document
Module 107: Brothers in Arms- Is war justifiable? Look closely at 2 or 3 philosophical arguments for or against “war”.

War is defined as the “state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country” (Oxford Dictionaries, 2012 and is typically characterised as being extremely violent, resulting in high rates of mortality. There are many philosophical and theological arguments supporting and contesting its justification. From a moral perspective, killing another human being in warfare cannot be justified as it breaches International law (Bica, 2007). Similarly, many scholars within the Christian and Catholic faith cannot justify war as it violates moral principles and teachings (Cole, 2012; Nohar, 2008 & Tremblay, 2003). However, from a political perspective, engaging in warfare can be justified when it complies with certain philosophical and ethical criteria, such as just-war theory (Egan & Rakoczy, 2011 & Nohar,2008). Both the Soviet and Totalitarian philosophy can justify war as it is believed to be a natural aspect of human nature (Kohn, 1940 & White, 1936). Furthermore, many scholars believe that war is justified when used as a remedy for injustice (Nohar, 2008; Slomp, 2006; Smith, 1990; Tremblay, 2003 & White, 1936). Therefore, War can be both justified and unjustified depending on the perspective of an individual. Based on moral beliefs, killing another human being in warfare cannot be justified (Bica, 2007; Cole, 2012; Nohar, 2008 & Tremblay, 2003). According to Bica (2007), war is typified by extreme aggression, murder, genocide and crimes against humanity. This makes war a direct breach of International law, reinforcing the belief that war is unjustified. Bica (2007) defines moral principles as the “recognition of the intrinsic worth of all human beings as embodied in the principle of respect for persons” (p.627). Bica (2007) then asserts that people are moral beings and are humanly obligated to respect human life, treating others as an “ends in themselves and not only as a means to achieving [their] own ends” (p.628). Again, this reinforces the belief that war is unjustified as it violates moral principles. Furthermore, within religious moral principles, war cannot be justified under Christian and Catholic values as it is typically violent in nature, resulting in high rates of mortality (Tremblay, 2003). According to Cole (2012), the engagement in war contradicts the Golden Rule, which instructs human beings to treat others as one would wish to be treated. Furthermore, within the Roman Catholic moral principles, war and war tactics, such as torture, contradicts human dignity, violating both the absolute commandment of “thou shalt not kill” (Nohar, 2008) as well as “the imago Dei (image of God) in human beings” (Cole, 2012, p.29). Tremblay (2003) quotes Paul’s biblical passage in Romans 12:17, stating that “one must not render evil for evil but overcome it with good” (p.17), further reinforcing the religious moral belief that war cannot be justified. Additionally, while some cases of warfare may have a perceived just cause, such as defending the lives and way of life of fellow citizens against an aggressor; those fighting on behalf of that aggressor are acting on unjust causes and therefore lack any justification to engage in war (Nohar, 2008). Therefore, from a moral standpoint, engaging in warfare cannot be justified as it breaches moral principles within both religious and secular teachings.
However, many scholars believe that war can be justified when used as a remedy for injustice (Nohar, 2008; Slomp, 2006; Smith, 1990; Tremblay, 2003 & White, 1936). This includes the right to self-defence, which can be used to argue contemporary moral philosophers who have challenged the validity of just-war theory, questioning the exclusion of warfare killings from the fundamental prohibition of murder (Nohar, 2008). Tremblay (2003) quotes the Augustine belief that one’s only reason
Show More

Related Documents: LOGOS War essay

'Rhetorical Analysis Of Thomas Paine's Common Sense'

the Revolutionary War. They had guns. They had soldiers. They had patriotism; yet they were lacking one thing: “Common Sense”. Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” was America’s wake-up call that pushed them to win the war. It was his appeal to logos, best exemplified by the problem-solution structure of the pamphlet, that enabled Paine to express his call to action against England. Paine commences his essay with an exposure of England’s flaws, accompanied by a subtle appeal to logos. This choice of…

Words 940 - Pages 4

War On Drug Final Essay

Annick Minsa Professor Nicole zaza English 1302 18 February 2015 There’s no Justice in the War on Drugs Milton Friedman (1912-2006), leading conservative economist was the author of multiple writings and winner of a Nobel Prize in economics. In his essay, he criticized the “war on drugs” and explained how at different levels the effect of that war negatively affects the society. His writing is divided in a succession of subtitles where he enumerates the points that sustain his argumentation. In…

Words 815 - Pages 4

Rhetorical Triad And Thesis Lecture 2 3 Essay example

Socratic dialectic Written partly against Socrates’ claim that rhetoric is mere flattery, that only philosophy leads the way to truth Aristotle’s text introduced the basic elements of oratory, many of which we continue to recognize today in modern essay writing (arrangement, style, evidence, expression, audience, purpose) Is the art of persuasion ethical or unethical? It depends what you do with it! Questionable ethics Lawyers Politicians Advertisers Highly respected ethics Professors Medical…

Words 877 - Pages 4

The Veterans Are Coming Analysis

a particular group in community colleges and universities are being judged by a particular service they have done, that service is serving in the United States military. Edward Palm describes his experiences in the essay, The Veterans are Coming! The Veterans are Coming!” His essay is directed mainly at the students and faculty of colleges and universities. The author uses pathos in which he talks about his own experiences after returning back to school. He states he was treated with “special treatment…

Words 273 - Pages 2

Patrick Henry I Have A Dream Speech Analysis

Speeches Essay The major ideal held by both Dr Martin Luther King Jr in I Have A Dream and Patrick Henry in Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death is freedom. Both spurred the on looking crowd in righteous applause. The significance of the speeches is exceedingly helped by their use of pathos, egos and logos. Significance of a speech is affected by the people listening to the speech and how the speaker is incorporating the listeners. The integration of pathos into the speech allows for an increased emotional…

Words 1030 - Pages 5

Essay on The Image as Memorial: Personal Photographs in Cultural Memory Analysis

"A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you" (Brigitte Bardot) Photographs are resting places for the Dead as well as memorials for the Living. Textbooks and museums catalogue wars through images of battlefields and military generals, governments memorialize their leaders through portraits and ornate displays of their likeness, families preserve memories through family photo albums. Photographs are an integral element of this visual society…

Words 1097 - Pages 5

Thomas Paine's Persuasive Words

Thomas Paine’s Persuasive Words “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph” (Paine). People at the time want to get away from Britain’s rule and start a new life in the colonies. They desire freedom and a new meaning in life. For many people everyday life is a struggle, trying to make a living and feed their family. Times are tough and the British are taxing their resources and their money with acts. The transition is being made from a society of religion to a society of reason…

Words 285 - Pages 2

Allitt Patrick's Essay: Should Students Specialize

Argument description of Allitt Patrick’s essay: “Should undergraduates specialize” Within his essay, “Should undergraduates specialize,” Allitt focused on the differences between the British higher level educational system and the United States higher level educational system. Allitt began by comparing his college experience at the University of Oxford to the one his daughter is expected to experience at Emory University. Allitt mentioned their different circumstances and how times have changed…

Words 1219 - Pages 5

Comparing King's Gettysburg Address And I Have A Dream

Analytical Essay Speeches have been used since the dawn of time as a way for one person to convey a message to a desired audience. In November of 1863, Abraham Lincoln would deliver a speech falling short of 300 words with the purpose of dedicating a cemetery to fallen heroes of war. One hundred years later, Martin Luther King Jr. would give a speech to a group of more than 250,000 people. Both Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and King’s I Have a Dream have lasted through the barrier of time as some…

Words 944 - Pages 4

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: Logically Emotional Appeal Essay

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: Logically Emotional Appeal Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, is a moving written account of Frederick Douglass’ harrowing experiences as a slave, and his journey into freedom. In his critical essay “Douglass and Sentimental Rhetoric,” Jefferey Steele argues, that despite being objective, Douglass’ account is mixed with Pathos, complicating the straightforward chronicle. While pathos is evident in the text, it does not complicate the memoir’s…

Words 941 - Pages 4