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Proportionality, just war theory and weapons innovation.
1The University of Sydney, Broadway, NSW, 2006, Australia. jjohn@tpg.com.au
Science and Engineering Ethics
|September 20, 2008
Summary
The proportionality principle in Just War Theory is inapplicable prospectively. Weapons innovation introduces unpredictable costs, making pre-war cost-benefit analysis for just wars impossible.
Area of Science:
- Ethics
- Political Science
- Military History
Background:
- Just War Theory posits that wars must be proportional responses to aggression.
- Proportionality requires balancing the costs and benefits of war.
- Challenges include defining, measuring, and scoping these costs and benefits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the applicability of the proportionality principle in Just War Theory.
- To investigate the impact of weapons innovation on prospective war assessment.
- To challenge the feasibility of pre-war proportionality calculations.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of the proportionality principle.
- Historical case studies of weapons innovation (atomic bomb, AK-47, catapult).
- Critical evaluation of arguments for and against prospective proportionality.
Main Results:
- Weapons innovation inherently introduces unpredictable costs.
- These costs cannot be determined in advance of engaging in conflict.
- The proportionality principle faces insurmountable challenges when applied prospectively.
Conclusions:
- The proportionality principle is not prospectively applicable due to inherent uncertainties in war costs.
- Just War Theory requires re-evaluation of prospective assessment methods.
- The unpredictable nature of military technology undermines pre-war ethical calculations.
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