ETH202 Notes on Political Violence and Peacebuilding

Philosophy and Ethics of Political Violence ethics notes

Philosophy and ethics of political violence (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

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Philosophy and Ethics of Political Violence ethics notes

Philosophy and ethics of political violence (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

Scan to open on Studocu

Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university Philosophy and Ethics of Political Violence: Peace, War, and Terrorism [Ethics part]

Lecture 1:

What’s the role of religion?

World Council of Churches more important than rooms full of presidents and prime-ministers Christ’s love want meant only for people of Christian faith. Work together from different faith institutions to spread more of Christs love, serve everyone. Political institutions cannot serve all the needs of everyone. Uphold the consciousness that war is not an option. Demonstrate this together. Dangers of religions being misused by politicians.

Exclusivist, inclusivist, pluralist

The role of religious actors in peacebuilding -> The prohibition to take lives of others

Judaism: o You shall not murder/kill o Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord. Christianity o Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments Islam o The prophet Muhammad said: None of you has faith until you love for your neighbour what you love for yourself

The prohibition to take lives of others:

UN-Charter Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person

Definition of Ethics: A system of accepted beliefs that control behaviour, especially such a system based on morals -> every religion provides a system based on morals -> theological ethics

Definition of Religion: Emil Durkheim: "a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say things set apart and forbidden - beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a church, all those who adhere to them.“

Max Lynn Stackhouse: "a comprehensive worldview or 'metaphysical moral vision’ that is accepted as binding because it is held to be in itself basically true and just even if all dimensions of it cannot be either fully confirmed or refuted” Faith-based organizations: organization whose values are based on faith and/or beliefs, which has a mission based on social values of the particular faith, and which most often draws its activists (leaders, staff, volunteers) from a particular faith group. The faith to which the organization is relating to does not have to be academically classified as religion. The term … is more inclusive than the term „religious organization“ as it refers also to the non-congregation faith beliefs... Currently, this terminology is widely used in governmental, inter-governmental, and non-governmental settings.”

The secularization thesis

The significance of religion in a globalized world will diminish in direct relation to increase in education and prosperity The triumph of modernity can be linked to the separation of „church and state“ (religion and government) which secularizes the public sphere while enabling religion to wither (Western Europe) or flourish in the private sphere (United States).

Lecture 2:

Just War tradition When is it justifiable to go to war?

Michael Walzer – The triumph of just war theory

‘’Just War’’ Theory

‘’Just war theory refers to the body of thought, arising primarily out of the Western Christian tradition, which addresses the questions of when war may be justified (referred to as ius ad bellum) And what actions are justifiable during war (ius in bello), and in some modern manifestations also what actions are morally necessary after war (ius post bellum).’’

-> When and how wars are fought

‘’The Just War tradition is a two thousand year old conversation about the legitimacy of war…(which) provides a justificatory framework; a meaningful language that soldiers and politicians use to legitimize their actions and that friends, foes and bystanders alike us to evaluate those claims’’. Alex Bellamy, 2006

->The Morality of Warfare?

‘’…even if we believe that war is an inevitable feature of the human condition, as human beings we are also mandated not to let it slip totally free of the moral (i.e.,)…