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The Pros And Cons Of The Bombing Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki

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In August of 1941, the United States of America dropped two atomic bombs on the nation of Japan. The bombings decimated the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Thousands were left either dead, wounded, homeless, or scarred for life. The bombings also brought World War II to an end and prevented a full-scale invasion japan which surely would have result in the death of more Americans, but was it justified. Over the years many ethicists have argued on whether or not the bombings were, in fact, necessary and justified. Both sides have provided strong arguments for their respective opinions, but after careful examination and thought I have come to a conclusion. I believe that the dropping of the Atomic bomb on Japan may not have been ethical based on both deontological and utilitarian arguments. When the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are examined for justification, using a deontological approach to ethics, justification often times cannot be found. The strongest arguments that deontologists make against the bombs is that they were unjustifiable because they killed civilians and killing is wrong. Although I would agree that this argument is coherent, consistent, and strong, it is not the argument that persuaded me to deem the bombings unjustifiable. I believe this because that statement is too …show more content…

The argument offered by them would be that the use of the atomic bombs ignited the Cold War between the United States and The USSR which resulted in more damage than find another way to end the war would have. Therefore the result of dropping the bombs was not worth the devastating effects of the cold war that the bombs ignited. (http://www.johndclare.net/cold_war5.htm) Although this argument agrees to some degree with my initial argument I feel it lacks the strength because again it’s too

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