War - Humanities Ib

Humanities
War Essay
War inevitably brings death, destruction and suffering, which both ruin lives and nations. Using religious guidance, ethical theories and general arguments, I will decide formyself whether or not war can be justified.

The most unjustifiable consequence of war is the loss of innocent civilians’ lives. Civilians, who could have lived to make a huge impact on the world,pose no direct threat to the enemy and might not even share the motives of the side they have been presumed to support. War eradicates hopes and dreams of millions, destroys homelands, frightens andoppresses people. Nothing that, in the end, brings more bad than it does good can be justified.
Going to war in the name of peace cannot be justified – it is a complete contradiction: It is usingviolent means to achieve the very concept of non-violence.
If you force soldiers to follow orders and kill mercilessly in wars you destroy their natural instincts of compassion and their ability to thinkand act freely, creating more tools for warlords. Nobody has the right to kill the spirit of an individual. War can destroy the will to live in those whose lives have been wrecked by it, and kills theinnocence of those forced to kill intentionally. Nobody can justifiably claim the rights to control others emotions and desires.
War is usually an enormous economic hole into which a country’sresources and labour are poured. It often keeps civilians working hard without giving them any direct rewards. Many countries over-spend on labour and resources to meet on going war needs, depriving theirpopulation of other necessities. This economic deprivation can take years to recover from.
 
If the outcome of war brings more good than harm, war can be justified; even if the actual reason for waris not a morally acceptable one. Anything that, on a worldwide scale, improves the quality of life for the majority is acceptable. If the evils a war is fought against, like racism or terrorism,...