The Ethics of Terrorism: Employing Just War Principles Essay -- Terror

The clean contend tradition has been seen as a leading perspective on the ethics of war since the writings of St Augustine were rearticulated by doubting Thomas Aquinas. It attempts to ply a framework which validates just conflicts, whilst at the same time applying limits so as to prevent unrestrained warfare. Today, its core principles bear be divided into two broad categories jus ad bellum (just resort to war) and jus in bello (just conduct in war). For a war to be just, numerous criteria must(prenominal) be satisfied within these categories.In recent decades non-state act of terrorism has become increasingly high-profile indeed, in the twenty first century it has dominated the global political agenda. It is pertinent therefore, to question whether terrorism can be ethically assessed using the Just warfare tradition.In this essay, I will argue that it is possible to ethically evaluate terrorism by employing Just War principles. I will show that terrorists can satisfy the m ost important criterion of the Just War tradition. Firstly, they can represent a trustworthy berth and can have a just cause. Secondly, terrorism can be a last resort and offers a reasonable mindset of supremacy. Finally, whilst many terrorists do adhere to the principle of discrimination, the notion of non-combatant immunity and civilian innocence is over-simplified. Furthermore, terrorists may perceive themselves to be in a haughty emergency, therefore meaning the rules of war cease to exist. terrorism can satisfy the principle of proportionality.However, before I begin my argument, I must get to a working definition for terrorism an important and controversial issue in itself. Walzer describes it as like rape and murder an attack upon the candid (2005... ...Family look into Council, Accessed Online 07/11/2010Roberts, Adams, (1989), Ethics, Terrorism and Counter Terrorism, Terrorism and Political Violence 1 (1), pp. 48-70Schmidt Alex P, and Jongman Albert I, (1998) Politi cal Terrorism (Amsterdam, Transaction Books)Smilanski, Saul, (2004), Terrorism, Justification and Illusion, Ethics, 114, July pp. 790-805Valls, Andrew, (2000), fecal matter Terrorism Be Justified, In Andre Valls (ed.), Ethics in International Affairs, pp. 65-80Walzer, Michael, (1992), Just and Unjust Wars A Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations, (New York Basic Books)Walzer, Michael, (2005), argumentation round War, (Yale Nota Bene)Wilkins, Burleigh Taylor, (1992), Terrorism and collective responsibility, (New York Routledge)US State Department, (2005), Country Reports on Terrorism, Accessed online 15/11/2010 The Ethics of Terrorism Employing Just War Principles Essay -- TerrorThe Just War tradition has been seen as a leading perspective on the ethics of war since the writings of St Augustine were rearticulated by Thomas Aquinas. It attempts to provide a framework which validates just conflicts, whilst at the same time applying limits so as to prevent unre strained warfare. Today, its core principles can be divided into two broad categories jus ad bellum (just resort to war) and jus in bello (just conduct in war). For a war to be just, numerous criteria must be satisfied within these categories.In recent decades non-state terrorism has become increasingly high-profile indeed, in the twenty first century it has dominated the global political agenda. It is pertinent therefore, to question whether terrorism can be ethically assessed using the Just War tradition.In this essay, I will argue that it is possible to ethically evaluate terrorism by employing Just War principles. I will show that terrorists can satisfy the most important criterion of the Just War tradition. Firstly, they can represent a legitimate authority and can have a just cause. Secondly, terrorism can be a last resort and offers a reasonable prospect of success. Finally, whilst many terrorists do adhere to the principle of discrimination, the notion of non-combatant immun ity and civilian innocence is over-simplified. Furthermore, terrorists may perceive themselves to be in a supreme emergency, therefore meaning the rules of war cease to exist. Terrorism can satisfy the principle of proportionality.However, before I begin my argument, I must establish a working definition for terrorism an important and controversial issue in itself. Walzer describes it as like rape and murder an attack upon the innocent (2005... ...Family Research Council, Accessed Online 07/11/2010Roberts, Adams, (1989), Ethics, Terrorism and Counter Terrorism, Terrorism and Political Violence 1 (1), pp. 48-70Schmidt Alex P, and Jongman Albert I, (1998) Political Terrorism (Amsterdam, Transaction Books)Smilanski, Saul, (2004), Terrorism, Justification and Illusion, Ethics, 114, July pp. 790-805Valls, Andrew, (2000), Can Terrorism Be Justified, In Andre Valls (ed.), Ethics in International Affairs, pp. 65-80Walzer, Michael, (1992), Just and Unjust Wars A Moral Argument with Historic al Illustrations, (New York Basic Books)Walzer, Michael, (2005), Arguing About War, (Yale Nota Bene)Wilkins, Burleigh Taylor, (1992), Terrorism and collective responsibility, (New York Routledge)US State Department, (2005), Country Reports on Terrorism, Accessed online 15/11/2010