Atomic Bombing Ethical Analysis

Words: 1607
Pages: 7
Open Document
The justifications of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been continually debated from the time of occurrence. The variety of approaches towards the topic often times leads to ambiguous conclusions that leave debaters dumbfounded. Primarily, there are two moral reasonings that analysts of the event utilize: the utilitarian approach and ethical tradition. The utilitarian approach determines the goodness or evil of an action by its consequences (1). It has been said that this approach led the United States to reduce innocents to instruments and morality to arithmetic during World War II (1).
By contrast, ethical tradition rooting from Judeo-Christian theology holds that some actions cannot be justified by their consequences, rather …show more content…
The most blatant justification was that the bombs would save lives (1). The alternative option of invasion would have a death toll on both sides that would surely surpass that from Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1). Additionally, the fierce obstinacy of Japanese militarists led Truman and his advisors to believe nothing else would succeed in forcing them to surrender (1). Truman also wanted to justify the immense funds that went towards the Manhattan project (9).The immense power that the atomic bomb represented intimidated the Soviets at a time when the foreign relation between the United States and the Soviet Union was not exemplary (9). Along with a lack of incentives not to use the bombs, a major reason for using them was to respond to Pearl Harbor (9). Any speculation towards the morality of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was cut off by Truman with his observation that “any schoolboy’s afterthought is worth more than all the generals’ …show more content…
The country made three fruitless attempts through neutral Sweden and Portugal to bring the war to a peaceful end in April and May of 1945 (6). American officials, having long since broken Japan’s secret codes, knew from the intercepted messages that some of the country’s leaders were seeking to end the war (6). By mid-June 1945, the Japanese Supreme War Council authorized an approach to the Soviet Union with a view of terminating the war if possible by September (3). In addition, the Secretary of Navy James Forrestal reported real evidence of a Japanese desire to get out of the war by mid-July 1945 (3). The Potsdam Declaration (July 26, 1945) gave Japan a chance to surrender; Prime Minister Suzuki rejects it because Emperor Hirohito wanted the continuation of war until he was guaranteed that he would remain in power and not be tried as a war criminal (10). The plight of the Japanese citizens during war was not something he considered. Hirohito, however, becomes increasingly aware of the declining public support for the continuation of war (10). Despite the egocentric obstinacy of Hirohito, a secret memorandum was sent to Roosevelt showing an offer of surrender from the Japanese (6). Reporters were obliged to keep withhold the furtive story due to wartime conditions (6). Nevertheless, Hirohito and his advisors welcomed the atomic
Show More

Related Documents: Atomic Bombing Ethical Analysis

Gal Alperovitz's The Decision To Use The Atomic Bomb

illuminating the hidden truths and challenging pre-established narratives. This is what he does in one of his most notable books, “The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb,” in which he meticulously researched the events surrounding one of the most controversial and significant moments in modern history. Moreover, Alperovitz's thesis contends that the use of the atomic bomb was not solely motivated by the desire to end the war quickly but instead to wield it as a diplomatic tool and strategic power aimed at asserting…

Words 888 - Pages 4

Essay on Nuclear Weapons

August, a plutonium implosion-type fission bomb code-named "Fat Man" was exploded over Nagasaki, Japan. These two bombings resulted in the deaths of approximately 200,000 people—mostly civilians—from acute injuries sustained from the explosions. The role of the bombings in Japan's surrender, and their ethical status, remain the subject of scholarly and popular debate. Since the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear weapons have been detonated on over two thousand occasions for testing purposes…

Words 1951 - Pages 8

Gp Essay Mainpoints

2008 U.S. Presidential Elections (bloggers provide personal opinions about who was likely to win but New York Times invited experts to do a state-by-state analysis presenting results in a full-page spread, culminating in a detailed map showing states Democrats were likely to win) • Anonymity: given free rein to publish any thought that comes to mind • E.g. For every worthwhile video present on the site…

Words 24667 - Pages 99