The Criteria for a Just War

Old Testament:

“At the same time we captured and destroyed every town and put everyone to death – men, women and children. We left no survivors.” (Deut. 2:34)

“Joshua spared no-one, everyone was put to death. This was what the Lord God of Israel commanded.” (Joshua 10:40)

Augustine laid down 2 conditions:

o It had to have a legitimate authority
o Had to be a just cause

Q: What is the purpose of war?

Aquinas added a third:

o There has to be a right intention

At the Nuremberg trial, 2 problems came through:

a. When is it right to go to war ?- Jus ad Bellum
b. How should war be fought ?- Jus in Bello

Catholic Bishops in America set out conditions for a just war in 1983:

Jus ad bellum
1. There must be a cause.
2. war must be declared by a competent and legal authority.
3. Comparative justice – the justice of the claims of both sides must be compared.
4. There must be a right intention in going to war.
5. War must be a last resort.
6. There must be a reasonable probability of success.
7. There must be a reasonable proportion between the injustice suffered and the death and suffering of war.

Jus in bellum
8. Proportionality
9. Discrimination

Objections to just war theory

o Pacifism
o Tyrannicide – Bonhoeffer
o High Moral standard of government

Walter Wink argues that war can never be just as justice requires fairness on both sides and war can never deliver.

Question:
If people in country S are starving to death for lack of food and those in country M have a large surplus of food, could it be just for S to go to war with M if all attempts to obtain relief through negotiation have failed?