Thomas Aquinas Justifiable War and Killing Essay - 670 Words

Among some of the subjects that Aquinas tackles in On Law, Morality, and Politics is the dilemma of War and Killing. Aquinas sums up the legality of war through three criteria: that the war waged is done by a legitimate authority, that the war is just because the enemy has done something grossly wrong, and the intention of the war is to solely right the wrong. Also we see Aquinas say that the killing of an innocent person is justified if God wills it. Aquinas argues that one of the objectives in order to make a war justified is when a legitimate authority declares it. Typical it is usually a countrys top leadership that would count as legitimate authority, however in the United States it is not the President who can legally declare†¦show more content†¦If this was the policy that was to be followed, the United States would not be a country since it was private citizens, who according to Aquinas are certainly not legitimate authority, who armed themselves and rebelled against the British. The former colonies who revolted and rebelled against their Imperial European countries would not be awarded their own countries because the people who are ruled are not in authority and thus, according to Aquinas, cannot wage war. The second criterion for waging war because the enemy has done something wrong against the first country I can agree with Aquinas is just. When a country has repeatedly harassed another country, made consistent threats and provokes another country to war by building up their military and does represent a threat to the country and/or the surrounding countries, then I believe it is just for the first country to act and to ensure stability by eliminating the threat. A country who constantly causes trouble within its own borders and/or nearby countries cannot be left about if diplomacy and negotiating for peace goes nowhere, waiting will only stir more trouble and peace will become more threatened if it hasnt already been removed. The third is s omewhat unrealistic in my opinion. Throughout mankind, wars have been waged never solely to â€Å"right a wrong†. Lives are lost, land and property are damaged and destroyed, life is hell during war. 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