 Description:
The just-war criteria organize discussions of war. Initially, the jus ad bellum criteria are used to organize the debate as to whether or not to begin a war. Subsequently, when the decision is for war, the jus in bello criteria are used to organize debates over appropriate actions during the war. The moral foundation for the criteria is the presumption that evil should not be allowed to triumph over good, that sins of omission are as serious as sins of commission, the tragedy of both notwithstanding. The empirical foundation is the principle of double effect, the principle that every action produces both good and bad, intended and unintended consequences. Because of this, decisions should be made only after a thorough investigation of all their consequences. It is the specific purpose of the criteria to ensure that this investigation is disciplined and thorough, none of the important perspectives or circumstances having been left out.
Name:Brien Hallett
Present Post and Title: Associate Professor, Matsunaga Institute for Peace University of Hawai'i-Manoa
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