St. Augustine
The classic Just-War Theory has its origins in Christian theology. Saint Augustine is usually identified as the first individual to offer a theory on war and justice. Augustine referred to the Bible and regarded some wars as necessary to amend an evil. Saint Thomas Aquinas revised Augustine’s version, creating three criteria for a just war: the war needed to be waged by a legitimate authority, have a just cause, and have the right intentions. The moral justifications for a war are expressed in jus ad bellum; whereas, the moral conduct of the war is expressed in jus in bello. The Just-War Theory is a set of rules for military combat.
Principles of Just-War Theory
- Last Resort
- A just war can only be waged after all peaceful options are considered. The use of force can only be used as a last resort.
- Legitimate Authority – Jus ad bellum
- A just war is waged by a legitimate authority. A war cannot be waged by individuals or groups that do not constitute the legitimate government.
- Just Cause
- A just war needs to be in response to a wrong suffered. Self-defense against an attack always constitutes a just war; however, the war needs to be fought with the objective to correct the inflicted wound.
- Probability of Success
- In order for a war to be just, there must be a rational possibility of success. A nation cannot enter into a war with a hopeless cause.
- Right Intention
- The primary objective of a just war is to re-establish peace. In particular, the peace after the war should exceed the peace that would have succeeded without the use of force. The aim of the use of force must be justice.
- Proportionality
- The violence in a just war must be proportional to the casualties suffered. The nations involved in the war must avoid disproportionate military action and only use the amount of force absolutely necessary.
- Civilian Casualties – Jus in bello
- The use of force must distinguish between the militia and civilians. Innocent citizens must never be the target of war; soldiers should always avoid killing civilians. The deaths of civilians are only justified when they are unavoidable victims of a military attack on a strategic target.
St. Augustine’s just war theory outlines conditions under which war might be considered morally permissible. He believed that war should be a last resort, undertaken to achieve peace and to punish evil, rather than for the sake of war itself. He emphasized that the desire for peace should be the primary motivation, and war should be waged only when necessary to restore order or prevent greater harm.
Here’s a more detailed look at St. Augustine’s key ideas:
- Purpose of War:
- Augustine saw war as a means to an end, specifically the establishment of peace and the punishment of evil. He believed that war could be just if it was waged to punish sinners or to return the world to a state of peace.
- Just Cause:
- A just cause for war, according to Augustine, could be self-defense, defending the innocent, or punishing those who have broken the law.
- Legitimate Authority:
- War must be declared by a legitimate authority, such as a state or leader, not by individuals or factions.
- Right Intention:
- The intention behind the war must be to seek peace and justice, not to gain power or territory.
- Last Resort:
- War should be a last resort, only undertaken after all other peaceful means of resolving the conflict have been exhausted.
- Proportionality:
- The use of force must be proportionate to the harm being inflicted, and the potential consequences of the war must be weighed against the benefits of peace.
- Reasonable Chance of Success:
- There must be a reasonable chance of achieving the objectives of the war and bringing about peace.
- Divine Will:
- Augustine believed that war could be seen as just when it aligns with the divine will, even if it is not explicitly stated in the Bible.
St. Augustine’s just war theory has had a significant influence on the development of just war theory in Western thought, providing a framework for evaluating the ethical implications of war. His emphasis on peace as the ultimate goal and the need for just cause, legitimate authority, and right intention remains relevant in contemporary discussions about war and peace.