Author Question: According to just war theorists, pre-emptive wars are permissible as long as there is some kind of ... (Read 59 times)

darbym82 · **on:** Jun 19, 2018

According to just war theorists, pre-emptive wars are permissible as long as there is some kind of threat to the nation that launches the war.

Indicate whether the statement is true or false.

Question 2

According to utilitarians, it is permissible to go to war whenever doing so is likely to help a nation satisfy its short-term goals.

Indicate whether the statement is true or false.

Jody Vaughn · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 19, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: F
Just war theorists agree that there must be a genuine threat in order for military action to be permissible, but that is not enough. The threat needs to imminent and dire, as well. Furthermore, the intentions of our leadersthose who declare warmust be morally legitimate.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: F
There are two problems with this statement. First, utilitarians believe that all persons' interests are of equal importance. The fact that going to war might benefit us is not sufficient; the interests of people who live in other nations matter too. Second, utilitarians emphasize the importance of all of an action's consequences. Long-term consequences need to be taken into account as well.