Can war ever be justified?

Question

But defending ur self.... thats not war is it?? war is when u DECLARE it right??

Answer 1

declaring war? probably not

going to war - absolutely, if someone attacks you, you have to step up and fight.

Answer 2

If it wasn't for for war you wouldn't have been able to ask that question. War isn't a good thing and it isn't a bad thing. Sometimes it is the only thing. It can bring out the best in people or the worst in people. Our Constitution guarantees us the inherent right to live safely and sometimes war is used to keep it that way. I don't know about you but i got pissed off when those planes flew into the wtc. I'd be even more pissed if it were to happen in another U.S. city. I like the fighting to be over there then over here, I know that has been used a lot but it is a true saying. Diplomacy does not always work. Revolutionary War is a great example of that. So is the war on terrorism. Give terrorists what they want and there wants will never end. Look at the Isrealian history for proof of that. Some wars are downright foolish, but sometimes people are foolish. Can war be justified? To some no ,they believe in peace at all costs. That proves to others you are not willing to fight for anything and they will take everything from you when that happens. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

Answer 3

It is a tool of diplomacy. War is intended as an absolute last resort. (although it seems to be used for other reasons)

Remember when you were a kid and the bully wouldn't leave you alone? You tried everything to stop him/her. If all else failed you were forced to defend yourself and you either got beat up or beat them up.

True we should always search for a peaceful solution, to think that there will always be one is just gullibility

Yes war is a very negative thing but through out human history it has had it's role.

We see a lot of situations where this tool of diplomacy is abused especially among some of the more belligerent 3rd world countries.

Answer 4

As a college student we discussed the idea of justified war. There is a philosophical principle called the "Just War Principle" that is generally accepted today as the only justification to wage war. Here is a link to the basic tenets of the Just War Principle. http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/pol116/justwar.htm

It is surprisingly short and of course open to interpretation but does set out some arguably valid terms to meet prior to commencing armed conflict.

For those who say war (and by extension armed conflict) is never justified I have some hypothetical questions. If a country is attacked, is it OK for them to defend themselves? The act of defense is in effect waging war. If you are personally attacked and could not run away would you defend yourself? If you had knowledge that someone was going to kill a large group of children and the ONLY way to stop this person is to kill him, would you? OK, this last one is a big stretch of reality but you get my point.

Answer 5

No.

Oh, you'll get people all day long saying, "Oh, yes, yes, YES!"

And perhaps war was a necessity in the Dark Ages.

But humanity has come a long way since then. Information is instantly available, news is constant, strides and leaps and bounds have occurred in technology, research, art, and the advancement of mankind in general.

War is no longer a viable option.

War depletes resources which should be directed toward the citizens.

We are not beasts, -- we have a nice, big brain. We can use those nice, big brains to create OTHER options.

The ONLY reason war is pushed as an "option" is that a great deal of money is to made off it. For a select few.

"Either war is obsolete, or man is obsolete."

http://futurepositive.synearth.net/2003/10/20
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Answer 6

Aggressive war is not justified. War in defense of your homeland, family and hearth seems justifiable to me. Also, to end tyranny against your fellow man....reminds me of some of the voices coming out of Auswitz, wondering where the Americans and British were.

Answer 7

war is a reality because of man in today's society. You simply can not defend yourself and expect to be alive very long.

Answer 8

Yes

Answer 9

So Hitler decides to kill the Jews - how many millions does he have to kill before you think he should be stopped?

Someone with a gun shoots your mother, father, brothers and sisters and now points the gun at your children. At what point do you think it would not be right to stop him?

People who say war is never right are morally bankrupt and as guilty as the perpetrators of wars that kill innocent people!!!

Answer 10

War is a necessary evil that should only be used as a very last resort.