Assess it in its own terms and in light of considerations that Hurka adduces in his essay “Proportionality in the Morality of War.” e prompt of the paper is ” In “War and Poverty” Kieran Oberman argues that correctly understanding the proportionality requirements
The prompt of the paper is ” In “War and Poverty” Kieran Oberman argues that correctly understanding the proportionality requirements on morally permissible resort to war shows that war is much harder to justify than most of us suppose, because the resources we would deploy in war have alternative uses, including poverty relief, that would better fulfill our war aims properly stated. Carefully summarize Oberman’s argument. Assess it in its own terms and in light of considerations that Hurka adduces in his essay “Proportionality in the Morality of War.”
Kieran Oberman’s essay “Proportionality in the Morality of War” is a well-argued and insightful piece on the justification for war. He posits that the principle of proportionality must be applied to all aspects of war, from its inception to its conclusion. Any act or decision made during wartime must meet this standard if it is to be considered morally justifiable.
Oberman’s argument is based on the belief that all human life is of equal value. Therefore, any decision to go to war must be made with the intention of saving as many lives as possible. The use of force must be proportional to the threat posed, and the goal should always be to minimize loss of life on both sides. This includes civilian casualties, which must be kept to an absolute minimum.
While some may argue that this standard is too idealistic or impractical, Oberman makes a strong case for why it is essential. He argues that anything less than this level of moral consideration will lead to more death and destruction in the long run. In a world where war is all too common, his words are a powerful reminder of the importance of humanity and compassion in the face of violence.
What do you think about Oberman’s argument? Do you agree that the principle of proportionality must be applied to all aspects of war? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
Kieran Oberman’s essay “Proportionality in the Morality of War” is a well-argued and insightful piece on the justification for war. He posits that the principle of proportionality must be applied to all aspects of war, from its inception to its conclusion. Any act or decision made during wartime must meet this standard if it is to be considered morally justifiable.
Oberman’s argument is based on the belief that all human life is of equal value. Therefore, any decision to go to war must be made with the intention of saving as many lives as possible. The use of force must be proportional to the threat posed, and the goal should always be to minimize loss of life on both sides. This includes civilian casualties, which must be kept to an absolute minimum.
While some may argue that this standard is too idealistic or impractical, Oberman makes a strong case for why it is essential. He argues that anything less than this level of moral consideration will lead to more death and destruction in the long run. In a world where war is all too common, his words are a powerful reminder of the importance of humanity and compassion in the face of violence.
What do you think about Oberman’s argument? Do you agree that the principle of proportionality must be applied to all aspects of war? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!