Ethics of War and Terrorism
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Explain your position regarding the ethics of war and responses to terrorism. In your explanation, be sure to draw upon ethical theories, concepts, and reasoning to support your position. State what you believe should be done and why.
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This post contains over 1000 words of original text and addresses the ethics of war. Several different ethical theories are considered. For each theory a description of their likely support or opposition to war and their perspective on combating terrorism is given.
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Explain your position regarding the ethics of war and responses to terrorism. In your explanation, be sure to draw upon ethical theories, concepts, and reasoning to support your position. State what you believe should be done and why.
A discussion of ethics is difficult because in many cases those discussing the issue do not view it from the same perspective. Definitions and terminology vary. In order to have a productive discussion, those involved should first settle on using the same terminology and definitions. Examples of definitions and terminology that are divisive include: justified, national interest, moral, right, wrong, national security, among others.
Consider the following ethical theories and how they apply to war and an ethical response to terrorism.
Might is Right
This ethical theory claims that as long as you have the power to do something it is justified, or right. According to this ethical theory, a strong nation making war on a smaller nation in order to take its land would be right. Terrorists are right to commit terrorist acts as long as they have the power to do so without getting caught. An example from history is the American Revolution. In America today we claim that the rebels were right to fight against British "tyranny". If the patriots had been defeated we would teach that they were wrong to rise up against the nation that had helped them in their colonial endeavors up to that time. They would be wrong because they did not have the power to gain their independence.
If I believe in this ethical theory I would say that ...
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