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Just War Theory: Ethics, Justice and Debate

A philosophical guide to just war theory, explaining ethical principles, historical debates, political responsibility, and relevance for peace and justice.

Historical tradition

Overview

Origin

Historical tradition

Founded period

Historical tradition

Important figures

Achille Mbembe: Ethics, Justice and Debate · Albert Camus On Resistance: Ethics, Justice and Debate · Albert Einstein On Peace: Ethics, Justice and Debate · Amartya Sen On Violence: Ethics, Justice and Debate

Major texts

A Problem From Hell: Ethics, Justice and Debate

Concept archive

Core Principles

People in this tradition

Important Figures

Achille Mbembe: Ethics, Justice and Debate

A philosophical guide to achille mbembe, explaining ethical principles, historical debates, political responsibility, and relevance for peace and justice.

Albert Camus On Resistance: Ethics, Justice and Debate

A philosophical guide to albert camus on resistance, explaining ethical principles, historical debates, political responsibility, and relevance for peace and justice.

Albert Einstein On Peace: Ethics, Justice and Debate

A philosophical guide to albert einstein on peace, explaining ethical principles, historical debates, political responsibility, and relevance for peace and justice.

Amartya Sen On Violence: Ethics, Justice and Debate

A philosophical guide to amartya sen on violence, explaining ethical principles, historical debates, political responsibility, and relevance for peace and justice.

Primary and related texts

Related Books

A Problem From Hell: Ethics, Justice and Debate

A philosophical guide to a problem from hell, explaining ethical principles, historical debates, political responsibility, and relevance for peace and justice.

Quotation archive

Quote Perspectives

“Aquinas On Just War is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Aquinas On Just War
“Arendt On Violence is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Arendt On Violence
“Augustine On Peace is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Augustine On Peace
“Butler On Grievability is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Butler On Grievability
“Camus On Rebellion is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Camus On Rebellion
“Chenoweth On Nonviolence is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Chenoweth On Nonviolence
“Clausewitz On War is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Clausewitz On War
“Cohn On Security is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Cohn On Security
“Einstein On War is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Einstein On War
“Enloe On Militarism is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Enloe On Militarism
“Galtung On Positive Peace is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Galtung On Positive Peace
“Gandhi On Ahimsa is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Gandhi On Ahimsa
“Grotius On War And Law is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Grotius On War And Law
“Hobbes On Security is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Hobbes On Security
“Kant On Perpetual Peace is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Kant On Perpetual Peace
“King On Nonviolence is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with King On Nonviolence
“Lederach On Peacebuilding is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Lederach On Peacebuilding
“Lemkin On Genocide is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Lemkin On Genocide
“Locke On Resistance is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Locke On Resistance
“Mcmahan On Combatants is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Mcmahan On Combatants
“Orwell On War Language is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Orwell On War Language
“Power On Atrocity is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Power On Atrocity
“Ricoeur On Forgiveness is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Ricoeur On Forgiveness
“Rousseau On War is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Rousseau On War
“Russell On Peace is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Russell On Peace
“Said On War is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Said On War
“Scarry On Pain is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Scarry On Pain
“Sen On Violence is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Sen On Violence
“Sharp On Civil Resistance is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Sharp On Civil Resistance
“Tolstoy On Nonviolence is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Tolstoy On Nonviolence
“Tutu On Reconciliation is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Tutu On Reconciliation
“Vitoria On Just Cause is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Vitoria On Just Cause
“Walzer On Just War is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Walzer On Just War
“Weil On Force is presented as a source-guided philosophical reading. Consult the listed primary edition for the exact wording and translation.”
See cited primary edition·Primary work associated with Weil On Force

Overview

Just war theory concerns the ethical and political questions raised by force, harm, protection, conflict, and peace. Philosophical inquiry separates descriptive accounts of conflict from moral claims about when, if ever, coercion or violence can be justified.

The topic must be approached with attention to human dignity, civilian protection, proportionality, responsibility, and the possibility of nonviolent alternatives. Historical cases can illuminate moral arguments without turning into operational guidance.

Careful reflection asks who bears risk, which rights are at stake, what alternatives are available, and how a just peace might be built after harm. This supports informed ethical judgment and conflict-sensitive dialogue.

Historical Development

Just war theory concerns the ethical and political questions raised by force, harm, protection, conflict, and peace. Philosophical inquiry separates descriptive accounts of conflict from moral claims about when, if ever, coercion or violence can be justified.

The topic must be approached with attention to human dignity, civilian protection, proportionality, responsibility, and the possibility of nonviolent alternatives. Historical cases can illuminate moral arguments without turning into operational guidance.

Careful reflection asks who bears risk, which rights are at stake, what alternatives are available, and how a just peace might be built after harm. This supports informed ethical judgment and conflict-sensitive dialogue.

Core Ideas

Just war theory concerns the ethical and political questions raised by force, harm, protection, conflict, and peace. Philosophical inquiry separates descriptive accounts of conflict from moral claims about when, if ever, coercion or violence can be justified.

The topic must be approached with attention to human dignity, civilian protection, proportionality, responsibility, and the possibility of nonviolent alternatives. Historical cases can illuminate moral arguments without turning into operational guidance.

Careful reflection asks who bears risk, which rights are at stake, what alternatives are available, and how a just peace might be built after harm. This supports informed ethical judgment and conflict-sensitive dialogue.

Key Thinkers

Just war theory concerns the ethical and political questions raised by force, harm, protection, conflict, and peace. Philosophical inquiry separates descriptive accounts of conflict from moral claims about when, if ever, coercion or violence can be justified.

The topic must be approached with attention to human dignity, civilian protection, proportionality, responsibility, and the possibility of nonviolent alternatives. Historical cases can illuminate moral arguments without turning into operational guidance.

Careful reflection asks who bears risk, which rights are at stake, what alternatives are available, and how a just peace might be built after harm. This supports informed ethical judgment and conflict-sensitive dialogue.

Influence

Just war theory concerns the ethical and political questions raised by force, harm, protection, conflict, and peace. Philosophical inquiry separates descriptive accounts of conflict from moral claims about when, if ever, coercion or violence can be justified.

The topic must be approached with attention to human dignity, civilian protection, proportionality, responsibility, and the possibility of nonviolent alternatives. Historical cases can illuminate moral arguments without turning into operational guidance.

Careful reflection asks who bears risk, which rights are at stake, what alternatives are available, and how a just peace might be built after harm. This supports informed ethical judgment and conflict-sensitive dialogue.

Learning Path

Part of a Structured Collection

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War, Peace & Political Violence: A Philosophy Learning Path

A philosophical guide to war peace and political violence, explaining ethical principles, historical debates, political responsibility, and relevance for peace and justice.

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Sources

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ZHAIBIAN Editorial Board reviewed

Reviewed by ZHAIBIAN AI Editorial Review · 2026-08-24

◈Based on 2 scholarly sources◈Last updated 2026-08-24
Editorial Standards →Methodology →Corrections →