The Bible presents no single viewpoint on war and peace.
The Old Testemnt shows both a revengeful God who destroys the enemies of his people and a God of peace.
The New Testemnt says nothing about war between state, but many things such as 'Blessed are the peacemakers', 'turn the other cheek' and 'love your enemies' seem to imply a pacifists position.
The teaching about love and the desire to protect the innocent will lead to most christians to follow the Just War theory, but some will follow a pacifist approach.
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Natural law
The primary precept of protecting innocent life will mean that a follower of Natural law will follow the Just War Theory.
Natural law would also consider the motives for going to war the cause and intention.
War should be to promote peace and harmonious society.
Just war is Natural Law in practise of warfare.
The doctrine of double effect can be applied in war, for exampke, bombing a civilian area that contains an enemy command post- the intention is to destroy the command post not the civilians.
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Utilitarianism
War is good if it produces good results-the loss of life and suffering have to be outweighed by the benefit.
It is difficult to apply the Hedonic Calculus to war as there are too many uncertainties.
Like Just War Theory, utilitarianism would assess the liklihood of success-the ends must always justify the means.
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Kantain ethics
Applying the categorical imperative to issues surrounding war and peace is not simple.
It is difficult to universalise killing and Kant would not allow killingfor some greater good, nor would he allow people to be used as a means to an end.Howeverif going to war in self defence, war would be eliminated.
Kant does emphasise duty- this would include the duty of a soldier to defend his country and to protect the innocent , so conflict can sometimes change society for the better.
Living in a kingdom of ends is reflected inon perpetual peace where he recommends a federation of states which forbade war- this was the forerunner of the league of nations and then the UN
Kant's deontological ethics is sometimes teleological when it comes to war.
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