03-10-2005, 12:28 AM
Can the philosophies or beliefs (used loosely) about war be categorized into three, then?
1. Holy War: Belief that war is an instrument of divine power and destroy those opposing divine will with a missionary zeal. Individuals, groups, nations must apply decisions about violence to coerce or wipe out *Others* in the process. [Augustine/Aquinas, Muhammad & Marx/Lenin]
2. Realism: Belief that war is a matter of power, security, self-interest, and in the larger interest of the subjects, (hence a necessity) largely making moral analysis irrelevant. Political, Social and Economical factors considered in managing warfare.
[Vishnugupta]
3. Pacifism: Belief that all war is intrinsically evil and can never be justified. [Gandhi]
1. Holy War: Belief that war is an instrument of divine power and destroy those opposing divine will with a missionary zeal. Individuals, groups, nations must apply decisions about violence to coerce or wipe out *Others* in the process. [Augustine/Aquinas, Muhammad & Marx/Lenin]
2. Realism: Belief that war is a matter of power, security, self-interest, and in the larger interest of the subjects, (hence a necessity) largely making moral analysis irrelevant. Political, Social and Economical factors considered in managing warfare.
[Vishnugupta]
3. Pacifism: Belief that all war is intrinsically evil and can never be justified. [Gandhi]