tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14902380.post112259997001562202..comments2024-01-30T03:39:16.491-05:00Comments on Thoughts of a Soldier-Ethicist: Conceptual overview of required philosphy course I taught at West PointPete Kilnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16027642894453539902noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14902380.post-90610438669817123372008-05-23T18:04:00.000-04:002008-05-23T18:04:00.000-04:00This year I taught philosophy at West Point using ...This year I taught philosophy at West Point using Brian Orend's The Morality of War. I think that it provides the most coherent discussion of the morality of war that has ever been written.<BR/><BR/>Unlike Walzer, Orend offers an extended argument.Pete Kilnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16027642894453539902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14902380.post-1124388507204779852005-08-18T14:08:00.000-04:002005-08-18T14:08:00.000-04:00Helena:Thanks for your comments! I'll try to repl...Helena:<BR/>Thanks for your comments! I'll try to reply to each of them.<BR/><BR/>First, yes, it's true that not "all soldiers are combatants", which is a distinction that I make throughout my writings where appropriate, but to keep an overview an overview, I couldn't include every caveat every time. Still, your point is true, and it's one well worth highlighting.<BR/><BR/>Second, I agree that Walzer's <I>JUW</I> is not the only good source of thinking on JWT, but it is the only one used in the course that this post addresses. Thus, my course notes focused solely on the course text. Helena, what other texts do you recommend? I have also used Paul Christopher's book <I>Ethics of War and Peace</I> in other semesters.<BR/><BR/>As for the third point--to investigate and teach non-Christian approaches to war--well, I'm open to the idea, but I'm also aware that JWT corresponds well to the Laws of Warfare, giving a moral basis to the legal rules that we soldiers must know and abide. And, personally, being devoutly and thoughtfully Christian, I'm not sure why I (personally) would search for truth away from Truth. That said, given unlimited resources, I would be interested in learning about other approaches.<BR/><BR/>I appreciate the thoughtful challenges. Reasoned discussion makes us all better educated.Pete Kilnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16027642894453539902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14902380.post-1124332296035297852005-08-17T22:31:00.000-04:002005-08-17T22:31:00.000-04:00That's a pretty succinct tour d'horizon of militar...That's a pretty succinct tour d'horizon of military ethics, Pete! Just, where you say: <I>all soldiers are combatants</I>, be aware that when soldiers are wounded, are surrendering, or have surrendered they are to judged hors de combat and therefore noncombatants. That's the justification for the use of the specialized terms "combatants" and "Noncombatants", rather than just "soldiers" and "civilians".<BR/><BR/>Also, though Walzer's book on Just and Unjust War is a good introduction, remember it's by no means as definitive as you present it as. On several occasions he was reshaping his argument so that by an amazing coincidence nearly all of Israel's military actions turned out to be justifiable.<BR/><BR/>Also, people should be clear that the whole Augustinian theory of "just war" was introduced into Catholic doctrine in a particular historical epoch. (It contradicts the Gospels, for example, in several respects.) It provides an interesting and sometimes useful set of "screens" by which those who believe in the possible justifiability of warfare can judge the justifiability of any particular action. It is not universally accepted as "the" theory of the justifiability of war even within the Christian churches. (I, for example, am a member of one of the numerous historic peace churches.) It is also not accepted as foundational by the great mass of people around the world who are not Christians. I think you'd do your students a service if you also explored some of the many non-Christian theories on the justifications for (and limitations on the justifiability of) warfare.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com