How Violence Breeds Violence: Some Utilitarian Considerations
In: Politics, Band 22, Heft 2, S. 95-108
ISSN: 0263-3957
Recent philosophical writing about war has focused upon just war theory, especially how best to construe the ius ad bellum & ius in bello tenets, & whether the distinction between combatants & non-combatants can be made in the modern world. Historically & politically, calls to war have often appealed to utilitarian considerations. In this article, I discuss important long-range consequences rarely mentioned in utilitarian defenses of particular decisions to engage states in war. When consequences are weighed fully not only in the short term but with an eye to the future, bearing the destiny of all people in mind, it emerges that belligerent approaches to international conflict resolution will not maximize utility. 22 References. Adapted from the source document.