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Introduction

A Rule Utilitarian Account of War

A Kantian/Rawlsian Account of War

A 'Modernist' Islamist Account of War

A Dharma Yuddha Hindu Account of War

A Comparative Account of War

Bibliography

A Comparative Account of War: Rule Utilitarianism, Kant/Rawls, Modernist Islam, and Dharma Yuddha Hinduism.

by

Matthew Lafontaine

For Ishanaa

War has been a terrible force throughout the history of humankind and has led to untold amounts of death and destruction. However, there exist thinkers within a number of philosophical and religious traditions that believe war is necessary in certain specified conditions. Furthermore, war itself can be controlled, as right conduct in warfare can minimize the suffering both sides experience. Members of the rule utilitarian, Kant/Rawlsian, ‘Modernist’ Islamist, and dharma yuddha Hindu traditions all advocate some form of restrained warfare. I proceed to analyze each tradition in turn, from any pertinent metaphysical or metaethical assumptions it makes to its rationale for warfare to justified conditions for entering war as well as justified conduct in war. A just cause for entering war is known in just war terms as jus ad bellum, while justified conduct in war is known as jus in bello.

Though operating from vastly different cosmological and/or metaethical foundations, the four traditions all justify warfare in retaliation for direct territorial aggression. A consensus also emerges that for jus in bello all agree that noncombatants and prisoners of war should not be directly targeted. However, beyond that considerable disagreements exist in whether or not some form of humanitarian intervention is justified, as well as for the use of nuclear weapons. There is also wide disagreement as to whether or not there exist exemptions in dire situations that would permit the direct attack of a civilian population. Despite the myriad differences between the four traditions, considerable ground exists for dialogue on the nature and justified conduct of war.

My methodology will be to examine both traditions using the vocabulary of the just-war doctrine. While I will do my best to respect the integrity of both traditions and see them within their own context, my understanding of war begins with the just war paradigm. I will strive to present both traditions objectively, but I must make my biased background in just war theory clear from the onset.