NWC INS -- Lecture 12 "Just War Theory"
Channel: U.S. Naval War College
Date: 24/03/2022

Join Professor Pauline Shanks Kaurin who will speak about “Just War Theory”.

From Professor Shanks Kaurin: 
How can the philosophical and moral framework of Just War Thinking help us begin to make sense of the following questions: When is it justified to resort to force in the international realm and go to war? Are there measures short of war (which may or may not involve kinetic violence) that are morally justified? How ought members of the military wage war? Should there be moral limits on actions in war or does that do more harm than good? How should we consider the moral and other impacts of war on combatants and non-combatants? How are conflicts ended in a morally justified way? How is the peace established after the conflict has ended?  While we will discussion some historical examples and current events, the aim of this talk is to explore how philosophers and other scholars/thinkers have thought about the moral dimensions of political violence and our obligations as human beings.

Professor Pauline Shanks Kaurin holds a PhD in Philosophy from Temple University, specializing in military ethics, just war theory, and applied ethics. She serves as the Stockdale Chair and Professor of Professional Military Ethics at the US Naval War College in the College of Leadership and Ethics. She also holds a BA in Philosophy and International Relations from Concordia College, MN and a MA in Philosophy from the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg.  Recent publications include: “When Less is not More: Expanding the Combatant/Non-Combatant Distinction”; “With Fear and Trembling: A Qualified Defense of Non-Lethal Weapons” and Achilles Goes Asymmetrical: The Warrior, Military Ethics and Contemporary Warfare (Routledge 2014) and On Obedience: Contrasting Philosophies for Military, Citizenry and Community (US Naval Institute Press, 2020.)  She was Featured Contributor for The Strategy Bridge and has published in Clear Defense, The Wavell Room, Newsweek, War on the Rocks, Grounded Curiosity, US Naval Institute Proceedings, Just Security, as well as a variety of academic journals.

About the Lecture Series

ISSUES IN NATIONAL SECURITY (INS) LECTURES are designed to offer scholarly lectures to the spouses, partners, and significant others of our students; military/civilian employees assigned to the Naval War College and Naval Station Newport and its tenant activities, International Sponsors, Foundation members, and local-area retirees or active/reserve personnel.

The views presented by the faculty do not reflect official positions of the Naval War College, DON or DOD.