Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Is war ethical?
Position‹2 of 2

No, War is always unethical

War may appear to be the only option when two powers are at odds with one another, but the unintended consequences of war are always grievous and enduring. Therefore, war is always unethical.

Supporting arguments · 2

  1. War is unethical because it is psychologically damaging for all parties
    There is evidence that war is psychologically damaging and harms not only the combatants, but also their families and innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. While some believe that we have made progress in preventing damage, others believe that war sets us up for a continuous cycle of violence.
  2. While conflicts should be solved peacefully, wartime promotes extraordinary violence
    We have the option to resolve our conflicts in peace and have even built structures to strengthen diplomacy such as the United Nations, yet wartime eradicates the priority of reconciliation. We confuse winning with resolution, even if it costs lives. War can seem like a solution, but it ends up increasing conflict.