“You can’t just apply the rules as if they’re always going to be the same.”

— Professor Anthony Lang

You might think that “ethics of war” is a contradiction in terms. But although the vast majority of us would prefer it did not exist, warfare is a rich subject when it comes to discussing ethical considerations.

This episode of Living Jewishly is an instalment of What Would You Do?. In this episode, Dr. Elliot Malamet welcomes three esteemed scholars, Professor Anthony Lang, Professor Helen Frowe, and Professor Asa Kasher, to explore the contemporary ethics of war.

Is there such a thing as an innocent civilian given the nature of today’s conflicts? Have the ethics of war changed due to the rise of asymmetrical warfare?  What is the moral responsibility of non-combatant participants, such as munitions factory workers? If the ends are important enough, can they justify any means?

Proportionality, collateral damage, and just cause are just a few of the complex topics explored in this thought-provoking episode.

“It’s much harder to justify killing people than just failing to save them.”

— Professor Helen Frowe

This‌ ‌episode discusses:‌ ‌

✔  Whether we should safeguard the safety of the civilians of an enemy state that has eliminated the distinction between combatants and non-combatants 

✔  The existence of inviolable rules — and when it could be justified to transgress basic principles of war

✔  How proportionality figures into the moral calculus of warfare

   ‌

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:52  Introduction

02:21  Professor Anthony Lang

03:35  Terrorism & ethics

05:10  Civilians, combatants & moral responsibility

10:15  Discerning civilian support

12:19  Safety of enemy civilians

14:52  WWII & citywide warfare

16:34  Professor Helen Frowe

17:17  Inviolable rules v. just cause

20:06  Proportionality

24:59  Quantitative analysis

27:03  Personal attachments

30:37  The dilemma of dirty hands

34:06  Civilians & innocence

44:06  Professor Lang & proportionality

46:25  Professor Asa Kasher

47:10  Distinction between combatants & non-combatants

49:59  How we think about conflict

56:19  Politics & war

Links:‌ ‌ 

Killing in War by Jeff McMahan  

https://global.oup.com/ukhe/product/killing-in-war-9780199603572

To get in contact or learn more about Living Jewishly:

Visit‌ ‌our ‌website: https://livingjewishly.org 

Follow us on Instagram: @living.jewishly

Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO2YEegjapKpQeXG6zh6tzw

or send us an email at hello@livingjewishly.org. 

Shalom!