PHIL 694: Special Topics in Contemporary Philosophy

PHIL 694-002: Just War Theory: The Ethics of War
(Fall 2017)

04:30 PM to 07:10 PM W

Innovation Hall 336

Section Information for Fall 2017

PHIL 694-002: Just War Theory: The Ethics of War
W 4:30 - 7:10 PM
Instructor: Dr. Jesse Kirkpatrick
jkirkpat@gmu.edu

This course examines the morality of war. The course can be divided roughly into three parts: the history of the just war tradition, contemporary just war theory, and contemporary ethical issues in war and conflict. We will begin by surveying
some contending ethical views towards war and political violence, paying particular attention to militarism, pacifism, and prescriptive realism. We then turn to the focus of the course: the just war tradition. We will explicate the dominant theoretical approaches towards ethics and war within the just war tradition, and then examine the implications these approaches have on the use of military force. Throughout the course we will use historical case studies and contemporary conflicts as the basis for our analysis. The course concludes with a focus on such pressing topics as torture, terrorism, and technology and warfare. This course will serve as an introduction for students interested in warfare ethics, and as a springboard for students with knowledge of the subject and who want to develop further research on the topic of ethics and warfare.

For students in the Traditional and Contemporary Philosophy focus, this course can be used as an elective.
For students in the Ethics and Public Affairs concentration, this course can be used to fulfill 3 credits of the 9-credit ethics requirement. For students who have completed that requirement, the course can be used as an elective.

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Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Topics vary. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.

Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.

Schedule Type: Lec/Sem #1, Lec/Sem #2, Lec/Sem #3, Lec/Sem #4, Lec/Sem #5, Lec/Sem #6, Lec/Sem #7, Lec/Sem #8, Lec/Sem #9, Sem/Lec #10, Sem/Lec #11, Sem/Lec #12, Sem/Lec #13, Sem/Lec #14, Sem/Lec #15, Sem/Lec #16, Sem/Lec #17, Sem/Lec #18, Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.