Definitions of War-
How language is used is a critical part of discourse and argument, but it is often overlooked. I want to help define some of the language being used when discussions of war are being held. Specifically language of the anti-war movement, which is often misdefined and used in disingenuous ways.
Warism - the perspective which claims war can be just in theory and in practice. There are distinctions amongst warists, including just warism and war realism, with further distinctions within those. It is a largely held assumption that war is a means to peace.
Pacifism - a position which claims war is always unjust and morally wrong, and peaceful resolutions to conflicts should be pursued. Distinct from passivism, the word pacifism means to make peace. This can be accomplished using various civil disobedience tactics, diplomacy, solidarity, amongst other ways. Pacifists also work toward eradicating injustice from society. Like warism, pacifism has many distinctions such as deontological pacifism and consequentialist pacifism.
Peace - many make a distinction between negative and positive peace. The former being a society where war is absent, but injustice is still present within society. The latter being when war is absent, and injustice is actively sought out in order to stop it. Pacifists work for positive peace.
Just-War Theory - a set of criteria which set limits to when and if war should occur.
Just Cause - the reasons for war must be morally and practically justifiable. Common refrains to meet this criterion are: defense against an aggressor, defense of an ally from aggression, or when crimes preventing peace and causing injustice are perpetrated on peoples.
Right Authority - this criterion stipulates that the decision to go to war has been made legally by the people designated to make such a decision. In a democracy, this power presumably should be held by the people, or by their representatives.
Right Intention - the war must be carried out according to its justifiable causes. Ulterior or secret motives would be wrong intention for fighting in a war.
Last Resort - this simply states that war must be averted unless it has become absolutely necessary for the existence of the state. This means to exhaust all possible diplomacy and other peaceful tactics.
Likelihood of Emergent Peace - war should be entered with a good chance that peace will be a very likely result of the war.
Proportionality - this refers to the fighting within the war. A state at war must kill the enemy in a proportionate manner. This rules out genocide, massacres, and large-scale civilian murder as justifiable tactics in a war. It limits what a warring state can do in regards to total war.
Further information about each of these ideas can be found online, and in Cady’s book From Warism to Pacifism: A Moral Continuum.
How language is used is a critical part of discourse and argument, but it is often overlooked. I want to help define some of the language being used when discussions of war are being held. Specifically language of the anti-war movement, which is often misdefined and used in disingenuous ways.
Warism - the perspective which claims war can be just in theory and in practice. There are distinctions amongst warists, including just warism and war realism, with further distinctions within those. It is a largely held assumption that war is a means to peace.
Pacifism - a position which claims war is always unjust and morally wrong, and peaceful resolutions to conflicts should be pursued. Distinct from passivism, the word pacifism means to make peace. This can be accomplished using various civil disobedience tactics, diplomacy, solidarity, amongst other ways. Pacifists also work toward eradicating injustice from society. Like warism, pacifism has many distinctions such as deontological pacifism and consequentialist pacifism.
Peace - many make a distinction between negative and positive peace. The former being a society where war is absent, but injustice is still present within society. The latter being when war is absent, and injustice is actively sought out in order to stop it. Pacifists work for positive peace.
Just-War Theory - a set of criteria which set limits to when and if war should occur.
Just Cause - the reasons for war must be morally and practically justifiable. Common refrains to meet this criterion are: defense against an aggressor, defense of an ally from aggression, or when crimes preventing peace and causing injustice are perpetrated on peoples.
Right Authority - this criterion stipulates that the decision to go to war has been made legally by the people designated to make such a decision. In a democracy, this power presumably should be held by the people, or by their representatives.
Right Intention - the war must be carried out according to its justifiable causes. Ulterior or secret motives would be wrong intention for fighting in a war.
Last Resort - this simply states that war must be averted unless it has become absolutely necessary for the existence of the state. This means to exhaust all possible diplomacy and other peaceful tactics.
Likelihood of Emergent Peace - war should be entered with a good chance that peace will be a very likely result of the war.
Proportionality - this refers to the fighting within the war. A state at war must kill the enemy in a proportionate manner. This rules out genocide, massacres, and large-scale civilian murder as justifiable tactics in a war. It limits what a warring state can do in regards to total war.
Further information about each of these ideas can be found online, and in Cady’s book From Warism to Pacifism: A Moral Continuum.
-Eric Virzi
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