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

Instructor: Nevin Johnson. This course meets MTWRF 1:15 – 2:45 p.m. via remote synchronous (RS) instruction.

Civil war general William Tecumseh Sherman said “War is hell.” But if “war is hell,” can it ever be morally justified to initiate such a thing? And if so, when? And even when war has justifiably begun, are there any tactics or strategies that are morally off-limits during war? And once war is over, are there any moral responsibilities owed to the former enemy? What moral principles govern the post-war prosecution of war crimes? These and other special topics (e.g., pacifism, sovereignty, terrorism) will be addressed.

Course text: Helen Frowe, The Ethics of War and Peace: An Introduction (Routledge 2015, 2nd ed.).