Contemporary Just War Theory

(in Polish) przedmiot fakultatywny

1. Hours with the instructor: 30h

2. Direct preparation for classes (including consultations and feedback) – 20h

3. Individual work hours: 40h

4. Individual preparation for oral speech and discussion or other specific assignments:10h

Total: 100h (4 ECTS)

A student:

K1: Knows contemporary just war theory, main streams and crucial issues within the theory – K_W01

A student:

S1: applies a highly sophisticated theory of just war to assess the morality of military conflicts, interventions and international relations in general – K_U02, K_U03, K_U09

A student:

SC1: is ready to autonomously and critically evaluate the information related to politico-philosophical and public issues – K_K01

SC2: correctly identifies and solves moral and ethical problems – K_K02

- description
- discussion
- narration
- participatory lecture
- problem-based lecture
- programmed material

- brainstorming
- case study
- classic problem-solving
- expert panels
- panel
- practical
- presentation of a paper
- project work
- round table
- seminar
- SWOT

- content-presentation-oriented methods
- cooperation-based methods
- exchange and discussion methods
- methods developing reflexive thinking

The aim of this course is to introduce students into one of the most important philosophical and ethical theories out there which deals with the morality of war, military intervention and international relations in general, to wit the so-called just war theory. It concerns such topics as, inter alia, analogy between war and self-defense, conditions justifying starting a war, legitimate and illegitimate ways of waging a war, morality of torture and terrorism as well as the dilemmas connected with the use of new technologies and weapons on the battlefield.

1. The Basics of Just War Theory – part I

a. Ius ad bellum and ius in bello

b. Definition of military aggression

c. The Principle of the Non-Combatant Immunity

2. The Basics of Just War Theory – part II

a. Rights and Duties of Combatants

b. Pre-emptive Wars

c. Guerilla Warfare and Civil Wars

3. Historical Development of Just War Theory

a. Thomas Aquinas

b. Paulus Vladimiri

c. Hugo Grotius

4. Moral Dilemmas of Contemporary Warfare Introduction

a. AI on the Battlefield – the Question of Responsibility

b. The Morality of Unconventional Weapons in War

c. Application of Classical Principles – Limitations and Challenges

5. Moral Dilemmas of Contemporary Warfare – Cases part I

a. The NATO Intervention in the Kosovo Crisis

b. Use of Non-lethal Gas in Vietnam

c. Legitimate Anticipation – The Six-Day War

6. Moral Dilemmas of Contemporary Warfare – Cases part II

a. Drones: Targeted Killing

b. Israeli Raid on Lebanon (1968)

c. Russia vs. Ukraine – The Structure of the Conflict

7. The Future of War and its Moral Dimension

a. Morality of Remote War

b. Means of Fighting Against Terrorism and Individual Rights

c. Escalation Ladder of Nuclear Weapon

Main book:

Walzer, M. (1977), Just and Unjust Wars. New York: Basic Books.

Additional literature:

• Bellamy, A. (2006), Just Wars: from Cicero to Iraq. Cambridge: Polity Press.

• Coady, C. A. J. (2004), ‘Terrorism and innocence’, Journal of Ethics 8, 37–58.

• Fabre, C. (2009), ‘Guns, food, and liability to attack in war’, Ethics 120, No. 1, 36–63.

• Frowe H., The Ethics of War and Peace: An Introduction, Routledge, 2016.

• Ginbar, Y. (2008), Why Not Torture Terrorists?: Moral, Practical and Legal Aspects of the ‘Ticking Bomb’ Justification for Torture. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Lazar, S. (2010), ‘The responsibility dilemma for killing in war: a review essay’, Philosophy and Public Affairs 38, No. 2, 180–213.

• Nathanson, S. (2010), Terrorism and the Ethics of War. New York: Cambridge University Press.

A student’s grade depends on the active participation in discussions about the problems and the literature proposed in the syllabus. By the concept of active participation the instructor understands taking part in discussions (particularly, the instructor expects students to ask him questions concerning proposed problems) or giving an oral presentation on a given topic – K1, S1, SC1, SC2.

Oral presentation should take a stance on the topic, pose questions and propose solutions. Each presentation should take approximately 10-15 min – K1, S1, SC1, SC2

Not applicable