green numbers give full details.     |    back to list of philosophers     |     expand these ideas

Ideas of Jeff McMahan, by Text

[American, fl. 2009, Professor at Rutgers University.]

2009 Killing in War
1.1 p.5 Wars can be unjust, despite a just cause, if they are unnecessary or excessive or of mixed cause
1.1 p.6 The worst unjustified wars have no aim at all
1.1 p.6 If all combatants are seen as morally equal, that facilitates starting unjust wars
1.2 p.11 Just war theory says all and only persons posing a threat are liable to attack
1.2 p.14 You (e.g. a police officer) are not liable to attack just because you pose a threat
1.3 p.16 You don't become a legitimate target, just because you violently resist an unjust attack
1.3 p.32 Proportionality in fighting can't be judged independently of the justice of each side
1.4 p.34 Innocence implies not being morally responsible, rather than merely being guiltless
2.1 p.49 Can an army start an unjust war, and then fight justly to defend their own civilians?
2.2.1 p.52 Volunteer soldiers accept the risk of attack, but they don't agree to it, or to their deaths
2.3 p.61 Soldiers cannot know enough facts to evaluate the justice of their war
2.3 p.62 Liberty Rights are permissions, and Claim Rights are freedom from intervention
2.5 p.83 If being part of a big collective relieves soldiers of moral responsibility, why not the leaders too?
2.7 p.92 If soldiers can't refuse to fight in unjust wars, can they choose to fight in just wars?
2.8 p.95 Soldiers cannot freely fight in unjust wars, just because they behave well when fighting
3.1.1 p.107 The law of war differs from criminal law; attacking just combatants is immoral, but legal
3.1.2 p.110 Equality is both sides have permission, or both sides are justified, or one justified the other permitted
3.1.2 p.113 Fighting unjustly under duress does not justify it, or permit it, but it may excuse it
3.2.1 p.116 Legal excuses are duress, ignorance, and diminished responsibility
3.3.1 p.124 If the unjust combatants are morally excused they are innocent, so how can they be killed?
3.3.1 p.130 Unconditional surrender can't be demanded, since evil losers still have legitimate conditions
3.3.3 p.147 A defensive war is unjust, if it is responding to a just war
4.1.1 p.157 A person or state may be attacked if they are responsible for an unjustified threat