Ima 1
Karin Ima
Mr. Pangier/Mr. Shaffer
A1 European Literature/A2 European History
5 April 2016
Just War Theory
When do we determine that something is right, that something is reasonable? Often times the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about war is horror, brutality, and dehumanization. Cicero’s Just War theory is a doctrine that provides the audience with a series of criteria, to ensure that war is morally justifiable. Yet there are still theories that define war as a pathway to peace -- perhaps even justice. Is widespread and long term peace humanly possible?
The purpose of the Cicero’s Just War Theory is to “ensure war is morally justifiable through a series of criteria”. The criteria consists of two sets: jus ad bellum and jus in bello. Jus ad bellum deals with the legitimate reasons to declare war. Jus in bello is what informs that war can only be waged, for example, “by a properly instituted authority such as the state” as the influential philosopher and theologian, Thomas Aquinas claims. Other claims by Aquinas include, “war must occur for a good and just purpose rather than for self-gain or as an exercise of power” (Aquinas). A war should commence for a purpose that is good, not for taking advantage of it as to gain power. “Third, peace must be a central motive even in the midst of violence” (Aquinas). Peace should still be the main objective even during the actual war. These three aspects as a whole reflect on how war is not all about inhumanity.
The Vietnam War is a difficult topic to break down. Was the involvement of the U.S. justified? It’s difficult to say for sure. Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Vietnam War Remnants Museum. I couldn’t help but notice many pictures of innocent civilians that were directly affected by the Vietnam War. It was heartbreaking to see that even young children suffered from the tragedy. In early 1950, President Truman of the United States provided financial aid to the French in the hopes to cease the spread of communism. Historians now call this the Domino theory. Ho Chi Minh asked for assistance from the U.S. when he proclaimed the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, but the U.S. rejected Minh’s request. Since Vietnam was under France’s control, and because the U.S. was their ally, it was almost a given that President Truman would make that call. Evidently, despite the controversy, the Vietnam War was just in some ways. Yet years later when Northern Vietnam fired on two U.S. ships, the new President sent the first ground troops in 1965. Although in the jus ad bellum states, that “war is never undertaken be an ideal state except in defense of honor or safety” and “no war is just unless it is proclaimed and declared” (Cicero).
The first World War is World War I was known as the “war to end all wars”. The book, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque is an excellent source that depicts the vivid horror of World War I. This novel strongly emphasizes on the youth -- how the youth are forced to fight when the older generations are the ones that declare the war, “war should be a kind of popular festival with entrance-tickets and bands, like a bull fight. Then in the arena the ministers and generals of the two countries, dressed in bathing-drawers and armed with clubs, can have it out among themselves...That would be much simpler and more just than this arrangement, where the wrong people do the fighting” (Remarque 41). Remarque himself experienced the war as a young man himself. His experiences resulted in delivering a message that shows how the war destroyed the youth: “We are not youth any longer...We were eighteen and had begun to love life and the world; and we had to shoot it to pieces” (Remarque 87-88). Thomas C. Foster, the author of How to Read Literature like a Professor states that “much of what we think about literature, we feel first” (Foster 106). What makes this statement so true is the fact that Remarque is writing a story about his experience through his characters.
So is widespread and long term peace humanly possible? Yes. History gives us evidence that war has resulted in many disputes and destruction, even though the primary goal was to gain peace. Ironic, isn’t it? But really, long term peace can be maintained if there is a balance. My theory is that war should only happen as long as it is controlled. War should only occur under extreme circumstances. But who decides whether or not to declare a war? The society, the people, the youth that is evidently forced to fight. If only we made rules -- war is justifiable. “Our knowledge of life is limited to death”, so, why are we wasting our time? (Remarque 264).
Word Count: 807
Works Cited
"Just War Theory." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.
Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading between the Lines. New York: Quill, 2003. Print.
Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quiet on the Western Front. Trans. A. W. Wheen. New York: Ballantine
Books, 1987. Print.
3 Changes:
Karin Ima
Mr. Pangier/Mr. Shaffer
A1 European Literature/A2 European History
5 April 2016
Just War Theory
When do we determine that something is right, that something is reasonable? Often times the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about war is horror, brutality, and dehumanization. Cicero’s Just War theory is a doctrine that provides the audience with a series of criteria, to ensure that war is morally justifiable. Yet there are still theories that define war as a pathway to peace -- perhaps even justice. Is widespread and long term peace humanly possible?
The purpose of the Cicero’s Just War Theory is to “ensure war is morally justifiable through a series of criteria”. The criteria consists of two sets: jus ad bellum and jus in bello. Jus ad bellum deals with the legitimate reasons to declare war. Jus in bello is what informs that war can only be waged, for example, “by a properly instituted authority such as the state” as the influential philosopher and theologian, Thomas Aquinas claims. Other claims by Aquinas include, “war must occur for a good and just purpose rather than for self-gain or as an exercise of power” (Aquinas). A war should commence for a purpose that is good, not for taking advantage of it as to gain power. “Third, peace must be a central motive even in the midst of violence” (Aquinas). Peace should still be the main objective even during the actual war. These three aspects as a whole reflect on how war is not all about inhumanity.
The Vietnam War is a difficult topic to break down. Was the involvement of the U.S. justified? It’s difficult to say for sure. Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Vietnam War Remnants Museum. I couldn’t help but notice many pictures of innocent civilians that were directly affected by the Vietnam War. It was heartbreaking to see that even young children suffered from the tragedy. In early 1950, President Truman of the United States provided financial aid to the French in the hopes to cease the spread of communism. Historians now call this the Domino theory. Ho Chi Minh asked for assistance from the U.S. when he proclaimed the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, but the U.S. rejected Minh’s request. Since Vietnam was under France’s control, and because the U.S. was their ally, it was almost a given that President Truman would make that call. Evidently, despite the controversy, the Vietnam War was just in some ways. Yet years later when Northern Vietnam fired on two U.S. ships, the new President sent the first ground troops in 1965. Although in the jus ad bellum states, that “war is never undertaken be an ideal state except in defense of honor or safety” and “no war is just unless it is proclaimed and declared” (Cicero).
The first World War is World War I was known as the “war to end all wars”. The book, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque is an excellent source that depicts the vivid horror of World War I. This novel strongly emphasizes on the youth -- how the youth are forced to fight when the older generations are the ones that declare the war, “war should be a kind of popular festival with entrance-tickets and bands, like a bull fight. Then in the arena the ministers and generals of the two countries, dressed in bathing-drawers and armed with clubs, can have it out among themselves...That would be much simpler and more just than this arrangement, where the wrong people do the fighting” (Remarque 41). Remarque himself experienced the war as a young man himself. His experiences resulted in delivering a message that shows how the war destroyed the youth: “We are not youth any longer...We were eighteen and had begun to love life and the world; and we had to shoot it to pieces” (Remarque 87-88). Thomas C. Foster, the author of How to Read Literature like a Professor states that “much of what we think about literature, we feel first” (Foster 106). What makes this statement so true is the fact that Remarque is writing a story about his experience through his characters.
So is widespread and long term peace humanly possible? Yes. History gives us evidence that war has resulted in many disputes and destruction, even though the primary goal was to gain peace. Ironic, isn’t it? But really, long term peace can be maintained if there is a balance. My theory is that war should only happen as long as it is controlled. War should only occur under extreme circumstances. But who decides whether or not to declare a war? The society, the people, the youth that is evidently forced to fight. If only we made rules -- war is justifiable. “Our knowledge of life is limited to death”, so, why are we wasting our time? (Remarque 264).
Word Count: 807
Works Cited
"Just War Theory." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.
Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading between the Lines. New York: Quill, 2003. Print.
Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quiet on the Western Front. Trans. A. W. Wheen. New York: Ballantine
Books, 1987. Print.
3 Changes:
- I added new things on the Vietnam War example.
- I added quotes to meet the requirements and also included reference to How to Read Literature like a Professor.
- I added more of my opinions into my second body paragraph.