PHIL/POLI/PWAD 272.002 – The Ethics of Peace, War, and Defense

Instructor: Frank Wu. This course meets MWF 10:10 – 11:00 a.m. in CW 105.

The course will introduce students to some of the moral issues of war and peace. For example: Can war ever be morally justified? Can revolution be justified? Can pacifism be morally justified? Is there a moral difference between terrorist actions and conventional warfare? Can intervention ever be morally justified? Is there a moral duty to seek peace? Is the idea of a national interest a moral notion? What is Just War Theory, and what are its moral presuppositions? What are the moral rights of prisoners of war? Can it ever be morally justified to target civilians in war? Who has the moral and legal right to declare war? What are the moral presuppositions of Realism and Liberalism in international affairs? Do the moral presuppositions of functioning democracies help to explain their alleged tendency not to fight one another? What are our obligations after war?

Have registration questions? Our PPE Administrators can help! Please email them at ppeprogram@unc.edu for assistance.