Ethics of War and Peace

While killing another human being is widely considered a wrong, war - a social institution that involves such killing on a massive scale - is an accepted practice that brings honor to those who carry it out on behalf of their respective political communities. This course explores the ethical dimensions of this paradox: how and why institutionalized violence is sometimes conceived of as moral action and what moral distinctions make this conception possible. The course will investigate a range of ethical approaches to these issues - including just war, pacifist, feminist, and poststructuralist approaches - treating them both sympathetically and critically. Enrollment limited to 20 juniors and seniors.