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Just War Theory: Evaluating UK's Actions and Criteria

Analyzing if UK going to war due to various reasons is justifiable, including using nuclear weapons and other controversial tactics. Compare personal rules for war to Just War criteria and debate the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

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Just War Theory: Evaluating UK's Actions and Criteria

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  1. Lesson 3: RE: Nuclear weapons and Just War

  2. Would these be acceptable reasons for the UK to go to war, and why?: • Another country invades • An allied country is invaded • The Prime Minister is assassinated by another country. • A terrorist attack kills 200 people, and the terrorists are protected by another country • A terrorist attack kills 2000 people, and the terrorists are protected by another country

  3. Would these be acceptable actions for the UK armed forces during a war, and why?: • Bombing a working hospital/school where enemy soldiers are hiding and training • Using child soldiers (under 18) • Use Weapons of Mass Destruction (e.g. nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, or biological weapons)

  4. YOUR TASK: • Choose the sixthings you think are most important if you were making the rules for war • You can add one of your own rules if you like

  5. Which six did you choose, and why?

  6. JUST WAR THEORY • St Thomas Aquinas (1255-1274) developed the theory • He built on the ideas of St Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430) • There are two aspects to the Just War theory: Jus ad bellum (Latin for ‘just reasons to go to war’) and Jus in bello (Latin for ‘just actions during war’) Lawrence OP ; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/legalcode

  7. Just War theory: a war must: • Be declared by a legitimate authority (e.g. a recognised government) • Have a just cause (e.g. defence against invasion) • Have a just intention (e.g. to stop evil, not for self-interest) • Be the last resort • Have a good chance of being successful and bringing about peace • Be in proportion (it should not kill too many people, especially if they are not involved in the fighting)

  8. How do your six rules compare to the Just War criteria?

  9. 6th August 1945: The atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima

  10. 9th August 1945: The bomb is dropped on Nagasaki Wikimedia Commons

  11. YOUR TASK: • Work through the sheet to decide whether the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki meets the Just War criteria

  12. DISCUSS • Would the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have fit into your Just War criteria? • Why do people have different ideas of what is ‘just’? • Can Just War theory be reliable if people can interpret it in such different ways?

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