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Single Idea 23617

[filed under theme 25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 1. War / b. Justice in war ]

Full Idea

If most unjust combatants are morally innocent because they are excused, and if it is wrong to intentionally kill morally innocent people, then a contingent form of pacificism may be inescapable.

Gist of Idea

If the unjust combatants are morally excused they are innocent, so how can they be killed?

Source

Jeff McMahan (Killing in War [2009], 3.3.1)

Book Ref

McMahan,Jeff: 'Killing in War' [OUP 2009], p.124

A Reaction

A very nice argument against the moral equality of combatants. If I think we are the good guys, and the opposing troops are no morally different from us, how can I possibly kill them?

The 23 ideas from 'Killing in War'

23595 The worst unjustified wars have no aim at all [McMahan]
23594 Wars can be unjust, despite a just cause, if they are unnecessary or excessive or of mixed cause [McMahan]
23596 If all combatants are seen as morally equal, that facilitates starting unjust wars [McMahan]
23597 Just war theory says all and only persons posing a threat are liable to attack [McMahan]
23598 You (e.g. a police officer) are not liable to attack just because you pose a threat [McMahan]
23600 Proportionality in fighting can't be judged independently of the justice of each side [McMahan]
23599 You don't become a legitimate target, just because you violently resist an unjust attack [McMahan]
23602 Innocence implies not being morally responsible, rather than merely being guiltless [McMahan]
23603 Can an army start an unjust war, and then fight justly to defend their own civilians? [McMahan]
23604 Volunteer soldiers accept the risk of attack, but they don't agree to it, or to their deaths [McMahan]
23606 Liberty Rights are permissions, and Claim Rights are freedom from intervention [McMahan]
23605 Soldiers cannot know enough facts to evaluate the justice of their war [McMahan]
23608 If being part of a big collective relieves soldiers of moral responsibility, why not the leaders too? [McMahan]
23610 If soldiers can't refuse to fight in unjust wars, can they choose to fight in just wars? [McMahan]
23611 Soldiers cannot freely fight in unjust wars, just because they behave well when fighting [McMahan]
23612 The law of war differs from criminal law; attacking just combatants is immoral, but legal [McMahan]
23613 Equality is both sides have permission, or both sides are justified, or one justified the other permitted [McMahan]
23615 Fighting unjustly under duress does not justify it, or permit it, but it may excuse it [McMahan]
23616 Legal excuses are duress, ignorance, and diminished responsibility [McMahan]
23617 If the unjust combatants are morally excused they are innocent, so how can they be killed? [McMahan]
23618 Unconditional surrender can't be demanded, since evil losers still have legitimate conditions [McMahan]
23619 A defensive war is unjust, if it is responding to a just war [McMahan]
23620 A person or state may be attacked if they are responsible for an unjustified threat [McMahan]