The paper explores the question of just war. For
nations to wage war, there is a political, social, and moral necessity to
justify such war. Consequently, the doctrine of just war then arose to ensure
that nations could justify their declarations of war and armed conflict against
other nations. However, as is expected, while the doctrine of just war has
existed for centuries, it has also elicited debate for as long as it has
existed. Rarely have people agreed on what war was just and what exactly being
“just” means. There are questions as to whether the term is not just another
political gimmick meant to allow nations to justify the death of millions of
people. For example, a war, such as the second world war, that leads to the
death of millions of people can be a just war regardless of its justifications
on political grounds. Through the analysis of views of various authorities,
including classical ones such as St. Thomas and St. Augustus, the paper will
illustrate that the concept of any war being just is becoming an outdated
precept as war is not consistent with the human need for love, peace, and
justice.
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