Essay Pacifism or Just War

Submitted By Meye2385E
Words: 3384
Pages: 14
Open Document
Shall we begin-Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

PEACE
PEACE

PEACE
PEACE

PACIFISM
PACIFISM
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Peaceful Means
Means of of Social
Social Change
Change
Peaceful

Jim
Jim Meyer
Meyer

PA C I F I S M - D E F I N I T I O N
Pacifism is the theory that peaceful rather than violent or confrontational relations should govern human intercourse and that arbitration should be used to resolve disputes. Peace is easiest to define dialectically as ‘opposition to war or violence’. It can be described simply as anti-war or as non-violence.
Pacifism literally could be delineated as a love of peace, or devotion to peace. Pacifism is a philosophy that no value or gain could justify that the use of violence takes priority over the commitment to peace and the preservation of human life. Hence,
“pacifism” is more than simply approving of peace, it is a moral philosophy that the commitment to peace stands higher than any other commitment.

"Pacifism"
"Pacifism"
Moral opposition opposition to to force, force, violence violence and and war. war. Moral
The concept concept embraces embraces positions positions from: from: The



1. Absolute Renunciation of all force, violence against persons.
2. Pragmatic Rejection of certain situations of killing or violence.
Let’s just briefly examine these:

Moral Positions of Pacifism
1.
1. Absolute
Absolute pacifists pacifists believe believe that that it it is is never never right right to to take take part part in in war, war, or or self-defence self-defence and and will will argue argue human human life life is is so so sacrosanct sacrosanct that that nothing nothing can can justify justify killing killing intentionally. intentionally. 2. Conditional
Conditional pacifists pacifists are are against against war war and and violence violence in in principle, principle, but but 2. they accept accept that that there there may may be be situations situations when when war war will will be be the the lesser lesser of of they two evils. evils. two
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

3.
3. Selective
Selective pacifists pacifists believe believe that that it it is is aa matter matter of of degree, degree, oppose oppose weapons weapons of of mass mass destruction destruction -- nuclear nuclear or or chemical chemical and and biological biological weapons. weapons. 4. Active
Active pacifists pacifists are are involved involved in in politics politics to to ratify ratify peace; peace; many many 4. pacifists will will refuse refuse to to fight fight and and refuse refuse to to take take part part in in any any activity activity that that pacifists might support support the the war. war. might

L
A
C
K
E
Y
’
S
S
T
R
AT
E
G
Y
L A C K E Y ’ S S T R AT E G Y
Lackey considers four moral positions of pacifist
Lackey
considers four moral positions of pacifist for efficacy:
I. for
Allefficacy:
Killing is Wrong-Immoral
I.
All
Killing
is Wrong-Immoral
II. Universal
Pacifism-Opposed
to All Violence, Not Just
II. toUniversal
Pacifism-Opposed
to All Violence, Not Just
Killing
to Killing

III. Private Pacifism-No Personal Violence; State
III. Private Pacifism-No Personal Violence; State

Sanctioned Acceptable
Sanctioned Acceptable
IV. Anti-War Pacifism-All War Immoral not Personal
Self-defense
 What’s the standard for determination of moral worth?
 If pacifism is moral, it must be moral for all or for none.

AllKilling
KillingisisWrongWrongI.I.All
Immoral
Immoral
What’s the standard for the determination of morality’s
What’s
standard for the determination of morality’s worth of the pacifism? of pacifism?
worth
A. Theological
Theological

A.
Renunciation?
 Renunciation?
B.
Sacredness of Life?

 C.
C. The
The Right
Right to to Life?
Life?

. THEOLOGICAL aa . THEOLOGICAL

RENUNCIATION
RENUNCIATION
“Thou shall not kill”. Exodus
20:13

Might the Bible provide support for
Might the Bible provide support for
Pacifism ???
Pacifism ???
I. God directs killing in the Hebrew
Scriptures.
II. Are
Show More

Related Documents: Essay Pacifism or Just War

Peace Vs Pacifism Essay

The words peace, pacifism and just war are frequently talked about in today’s society. Many people throw around these words without really knowing how they all relate. There are some similarities as well as some differences regarding peace and pacifism. The idea of just war also relates to, and helps to describe pacifism. Peace and pacifism are two separate concepts. The two concepts due however relate to each other. It is important to know the definitions of peace and pacifism before attempting…

Words 547 - Pages 3

Richard B. Gregg: The Power Of Nonviolence

Resistance, Moral Jiu-Jitsu, An Effective Substitute for War, Non-Violence and the State, etc. The researcher finds…

Words 816 - Pages 4

Good vs Evil Essay

good and evil. Although this is a fictional piece of literature, the struggle between good versus evil is an unchanging problem in society. This can correlate to terrorism and horrible terrorists trying to destroy our country and pacifism or pacifists trying to prevent war and violence from occurring. This conflict mirrors that of Beowulf and Grendel. Specifically, in Beowulf goodness is represented throughout the poem by the characters of Beowulf, Kind Hrothgar, Wiglaf, and their actions. Beowulf…

Words 758 - Pages 4

Walzer Review Essay

and Society February 15, 2013 War has always been an issue of high discussion due to all the consequences that follow the choices associated when dealing with war. The question we must deal with is; is national self-defense a goal that can justify launching a war, despite the large-scale killing that it is sure to ensue? This question brings many different opinions from both sides of the spectrum and different views. Walzer expresses his view of justifiable wars, while a pacifist like Gandhi, would…

Words 1524 - Pages 7

Just War Theory Essay examples

Religion (Just War) Christianity preaches peace and loving your neighbor but for the history of christianity, there has been violence and war in its name. For Many years people have been killing other human beings in the name of christ or justifying their killings by saying that the war is in the name of god. The belief that violence and war can be justified is called the “Just War Theory.” Just war is a war that is justified because it is necessary for peace to happen. Just war theory has…

Words 2510 - Pages 11

Ethics Just War Essay

Ethics – Just War a.) Explain how the followers of the religion you have studied justify going to war The issue of war, and how we relate to it, has been prominent in human civilisation all throughout history. The last century has seen the world through two worlds wars, plus plenty of smaller-scale ones too, that lead Robin Gill to say that “War has presented the 20th Century with perhaps its most crucial moral problem.” Even recently, there have civil wars, religious wars, those for economic resources…

Words 1861 - Pages 8

Mere Christianity Research Paper

incorporated throughout the New Testament, the normative sacred text for all Christians, and is thus the foundation of all Christian principal teachings. These principal teachings, including the Divine peace of God, peace in relationships, pacifism and the ‘Just War’ theory, provide Christian adherents with their understanding of peace, which guides them to contribute to the achievement of both inner and world peace. Although Christianity has faced ongoing difficulties in the path to peace, adherents…

Words 1751 - Pages 8

Struggles In The Great Gatsby

This can be found in other pieces of literature as well. One example is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby. In this novel, Jay Gatsby tries to win over the love of his former lover but fails. Jay’s human struggle is against others and himself. He must struggle against Daisy’s husband, and he has to struggle against his own fear of losing her. His fear of losing her what ultimately causes him to become extremely wealthy and throw elaborate parties in hope of seeing her. This fear of losing her…

Words 1197 - Pages 5

Malignant Peace Through The Establishment: The Guatemalan Military In Defense

rights violations. The report was a threat to the Military institution in which two days later, Juan Gerardi death came to enforce the impunity that exist in Guatemala even in post-war. The brutal event of the death of Juan Gerardi was no random act of violence but the continuous impunity that is foundation of the civil war was based on that hasn't be solved. The Guatemalan Military since 1954 has in a sense paranoia in which their form of violence, brutality, and government has been ingrained within…

Words 1222 - Pages 5

Conscientious Objectors In World War One

where one is allowed to choose whether to enlist or not. Yet, no one really will have the choice, even with or without reason. Conscientious objectors are people who refuse to go to war because of their morals, religion and/or beliefs; this led to controversies in World War 1 where people shamed men who refused to go to war. I believe the conscientious objector is a brave person, because of the treatment they are assured they will endure. The perspective of conscientious objectors as cowards is understandable…

Words 550 - Pages 3