Critically Discuss Augustine's Distinction Between Just and Unjust Wars

What is the Just War theory and how did it pertain to St. Augustine? According to Augustine there is no private right to kill. According to Paul Ramsey opposes in The Just War, Christian participation in warfare “was not actually an exception to the commandment, “you shall not murder” but instead an expression of the Christian understanding of moral and political responsibility. One can kill only under the authority of God. St. Augustine argued that Christian rulers had such an obligation to make peace for the protection of his subjects even if the only way to eliminate such a threat was through force of arms. St. Augustine believed that in wars there was a right intention.

Throughout history, many people have debated over the ethics of war and peace which lead to the creation of the just war theory. There have been a number of wars in the past and even in today’s world that have been proven to be unjustified by the means of this theory. Any war in my opinion, is hard to justify due to the violence, destructiveness, the nature of humans doing during war, and the impact it has on humans and the world. However, I have chosen to discuss why America’s decision to jump in to World War II was justified and by proving it by using the just war theory, mainly focusing on jus ad bellum.

Augustine will also praise the action that Abraham took when he decided to sacrifice his only son to God. Augustine will argue that the action of Abraham

War is a human endeavor. Humanity continually pursues solutions to counter evolving threats with the end of preserving power while also enabling peace. Civilizations resort to war to maintain their perception of this equilibrium. Defined threats and adversaries have changed throughout history, however, the essence of human nature and the base concept of conflict itself have not. Carl von Clausewitz’s theories on warfare capture the relationship between humanity and its application of war, remaining relevant in today’s era through their pensive explanations of timeless philosophical principles regarding the concept of war. These theories regarding war in politics, the key factors affecting war, and the extent that war is applied are inherently interconnected, providing insight on the relationships between humanity and its application of war.

The assumption that there are a morally significant achievements that can be made in war seems paramount to just war theory. Taking a life without certainty of of the necessity of doing so undermines the value of that life. Because international relations provides such an ambiguous and subjective subject matter to apply just killing theory to, pacifism seems to be the approach most likely to encourage peace.

Augustine challenged the claims of pagans, including those who sacked Rome. He wished to refute the claims which accused the Christian God as the source of turmoil in Rome. Augustine assured his fellow Christians , through his writing, of the false notions these pagans believed in. Furthermore, he showed the way in which pagans worshipped their gods, including the practice of offering sacrifices, was not the way to eternal salvation. In a time of Chaos and uncertainty, Christians could look to Augustine’s writing in order to find solace in their faith. Therefore, the invaders held no power over them, since

Aristotle believes, “Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good” (Aristotle 624). The military personnel in the perspective of war trying to aim at some good by killing the criminals. The outcome of the military personnel killing the enemies to going to aim at some good. On the other hand, when the criminals where killing innocent people on the street, their virtues were going to give them never-ending happiness.

Destruction, displacement, and death are all words associated with any war. With that so is the Just Post Bellum, after war. Just Post Bellum has been the concept that deals with morality of the concluding phase of the war. The objective is to maintain peace and justice after the war is over, which will mitigate any other blow ups that may be forthcoming. Just Post Bellum consists of four principle: just cause, reconciliation, punishment, and restoration. These fundamental areas all aid guidance to promote Augustine’s tranquillitas ordinis. “Just war should aim at establishing a just peace” (11) Lifelong peace is what Augustine and the Just Post Bellum are the ultimate desired outcomes of both.

St.Augustine even said that the killing by general law is an exception of the the commandment Thou shall not kill. He goes further into this by saying that the person is just as much of an instrument or tool of god as to how the executioner uses his sword as a tool to for the execution. He says how this is due to gods bidding and that it is, according to the law, the most just reason. Another person who defends capital punishment in the catholic faith is St. Thomas Aquinas. He says that those who are allowed to deliver justice by the law are permissible by god to give revenge and that he would not be committing any moral sin. St. Thomas Aquinas also said that people who refuse to obey the laws that God has put out for us, then the society is

     Augustine does argue this by stating that you can’t rule over something or someone that is equal to yourself because to truly rule means to have the ultimate superiority over you which is no other but the truth, who is God. The laws we should follow are the eternal laws that were set forth by our God. We as adults know what the eternal laws are from the upbringing from childhood and the desires and beliefs we’ve become accustomed to. The laws and the morals that we believe are the results of other people’s opinions. As teachers or higher officials in government, we take what they say as the solid truth and the way things have to be,

Inasmuch as the history of human society is largely the history of warfare, it seems quite natural for Augustine to explain war as being within God’s unfolding plan for human history. As Augustine states, “It rests with the decision of God in his just judgment and mercy either to afflict or console mankind, so that some wars come to an end more speedily, others more slowly

In order to make sense of St. Augustine’s definition of evil as the absence of good, it is helpful to know how he came up with it. It is true that

Though Augustine proved himself exceptional when it came to academics, what he learned rarely quenched the thirst of his intelligent mind, and his precocious nature gravitated toward impulse rather than instinct. He placed his curiosity in “public shows, [which were] the game of adults” (13). This misplacement of curiosity leads him to seek not incorrect knowledge, but knowledge in an incorrect way. His intentions leaned toward self-destruction, as evident in the pear-tree incident, and if intention is crucial in “determining the moral value of an act,” then the benighted Augustine lacked both morale and action (29). Malcontent with the vapidity of everyday life, young Augustine desired to physically feel something, choosing impulse over instinct by abandoning his noetic capabilities in pursuit of carnal pleasures.

Saint Augustine was born is 354 in a North Africa province part of the Roman Empire. Growing up in the Roman Empire was a major influence on his work. He is well known for his theological teaching on Christianity and developed much of its doctrine. Augustine wrote on political philosophy as well and developed his own ideas on what the ideal state is. Augustine believes that government is an act of God and its function is to allow people to live good lives. The state is a part of God's ultimate plan. The type of government is not important as the state playing its role to God. The church and government will be the key institutions in society and each will take care of different functions.

This paper I’m going to discuss Augustine’s answers to the problem of evil. Why didn’t God only create free beings who use their freedom for good? What is the source of the free movement of will? Lastly why do some free begins sin and others do well if they are in the situation?