Debate: Is War EVER Justified?

In 2018, I accepted an invitation from an anti-war activist to engage in two public debates on the topic, "Is war ever justified?"

I did not find his arguments compelling. His approach was to point out the many bad things about war, many of which I agree with, but I don't think he made a case against the moral permissibility of all wars in all situations.

I invite you to click on the link below to watch the video of this well-moderated debate. My portion begins at the 25-minute mark.  

Debate at Eastern Mennonite University: Is War EVER Justified?

Refuting some bad assumptions about morality and war

As a military ethicist who strives to engage in constructive conversations about the morality of war, I’ve come to recognize five common misconceptions that sabotage efforts to think critically about morality and war. The mistaken assumptions undermine any realistic possibility of a war being morally justified. Therefore, the misconceptions must be addressed and debunked to set the conditions for meaningful discussions.

The five misconceptions are:

1. Peace is always an option.
2. Both sides in war are always wrong.
3. Warfighting is analogous morally to a sports competition.
4. Motives must be pure for a war to be just.
5. Any immoral acts in a war make the entire war immoral.

I invite you to read the entire article and share your thoughts.

Moral Misconceptions: Five Flawed Assumptions Confuse Moral Judgments on War

Think deeply. Act justly.

Pete