PHL 135 Chapter Notes - Chapter 17: Preventive War, Jus Ad Bellum, Just War Theory
Document Summary
Just war theory: the doctrine that war may be morally permissible under stipulated conditions. War is such a horrifying business that only a just cause a morally legitimate reason can justify going to war. Most commonly cited just cause is self-defense against attack. The reasoning is that precisely as individuals are entitled to use violence to defend themselves against violent personal attacks, so states have the right to defend against unjust attacks from another state. The resort to war must be approved by a state"s rightful government. As aquinas says, a just war requires the authority of the sovereign by whose command the war is to be waged. For it is not the business of a private individual to declare war. : 3) the war should be fought with the right intentions.
