PHIL/POLI/PWAD 272.001 – The Ethics of Peace, War, and Defense

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

General William Tecumseh Sherman famously remarked that “war is hell.” But if war is hell, is it ever morally permissible (or even morally required) to initiate a war? If so, when? After a war has begun, what sorts of conduct are morally permissible? In this course we will carefully consider such questions, in addition to related issues such as terrorism, torture, and moral responsibility.