Essay Pacifism or Just War

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Shall we begin-Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

PEACE
PEACE

PEACE
PEACE

PACIFISM
PACIFISM
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Peaceful Means
Means of of Social
Social Change
Change
Peaceful

Jim
Jim Meyer
Meyer

PA C I F I S M - D E F I N I T I O N
Pacifism is the theory that peaceful rather than violent or confrontational relations should govern human intercourse and that arbitration should be used to resolve disputes. Peace is easiest to define dialectically as ‘opposition to war or violence’. It can be described simply as anti-war or as non-violence.
Pacifism literally could be delineated as a love of peace, or devotion to peace. Pacifism is a philosophy that no value or gain could justify that the use of violence takes priority over the commitment to peace and the preservation of human life. Hence,
“pacifism” is more than simply approving of peace, it is a moral philosophy that the commitment to peace stands higher than any other commitment.

"Pacifism"
"Pacifism"
Moral opposition opposition to to force, force, violence violence and and war. war. Moral
The concept concept embraces embraces positions positions from: from: The



1. Absolute Renunciation of all force, violence against persons.
2. Pragmatic Rejection of certain situations of killing or violence.
Let’s just briefly examine these:

Moral Positions of Pacifism
1.
1. Absolute
Absolute pacifists pacifists believe believe that that it it is is never never right right to to take take part part in in war, war, or or self-defence self-defence and and will will argue argue human human life life is is so so sacrosanct sacrosanct that that nothing nothing can can justify justify killing killing intentionally. intentionally. 2. Conditional
Conditional pacifists pacifists are are against against war war and and violence violence in in principle, principle, but but 2. they accept accept that that there there may may be be situations situations when when war war will will be be the the lesser lesser of of they two evils. evils. two
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

3.
3. Selective
Selective pacifists pacifists believe believe that that it it is is aa matter matter of of degree, degree, oppose oppose weapons weapons of of mass mass destruction destruction -- nuclear nuclear or or chemical chemical and and biological biological weapons. weapons. 4. Active
Active pacifists pacifists are are involved involved in in politics politics to to ratify ratify peace; peace; many many 4. pacifists will will refuse refuse to to fight fight and and refuse refuse to to take take part part in in any any activity activity that that pacifists might support support the the war. war. might

L
A
C
K
E
Y
’
S
S
T
R
AT
E
G
Y
L A C K E Y ’ S S T R AT E G Y
Lackey considers four moral positions of pacifist
Lackey
considers four moral positions of pacifist for efficacy:
I. for
Allefficacy:
Killing is Wrong-Immoral
I.
All
Killing
is Wrong-Immoral
II. Universal
Pacifism-Opposed
to All Violence, Not Just
II. toUniversal
Pacifism-Opposed
to All Violence, Not Just
Killing
to Killing

III. Private Pacifism-No Personal Violence; State
III. Private Pacifism-No Personal Violence; State

Sanctioned Acceptable
Sanctioned Acceptable
IV. Anti-War Pacifism-All War Immoral not Personal
Self-defense
 What’s the standard for determination of moral worth?
 If pacifism is moral, it must be moral for all or for none.

AllKilling
KillingisisWrongWrongI.I.All
Immoral
Immoral
What’s the standard for the determination of morality’s
What’s
standard for the determination of morality’s worth of the pacifism? of pacifism?
worth
A. Theological
Theological

A.
Renunciation?
 Renunciation?
B.
Sacredness of Life?

 C.
C. The
The Right
Right to to Life?
Life?

. THEOLOGICAL aa . THEOLOGICAL

RENUNCIATION
RENUNCIATION
“Thou shall not kill”. Exodus
20:13

Might the Bible provide support for
Might the Bible provide support for
Pacifism ???
Pacifism ???
I. God directs killing in the Hebrew
Scriptures.
II. Are
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