McMahan - Killing in War more

This article was downloaded by: [Schwenkenbecher, Anne] On: 16 January 2011 Access details: Access Details: [subscription number 932370780] Publisher Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 3741 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Australasian Journal of Philosophy Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713659165 Book Note Anne Schwenkenbechera a Australian National University, First published on: 13 January 2011 To cite this Article Schwenkenbecher, Anne(2011) 'Book Note', Australasian Journal of Philosophy,, First published on: 13 January 2011 (iFirst) To link to this Article: DOI: 10.1080/00048402.2010.541268 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00048402.2010.541268 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, re-distribution, re-selling, loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. Australasian Journal of Philosophy 2011; pp. 1, iFirst article BOOK NOTE McMahan, Jeff, Killing in War, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009, xii þ 250, £19.99 (cloth). In his latest book, just war scholar Jeff McMahan argues compellingly against what he calls the ‘orthodox view’ of killing in just war theory. Above all, he challenges the thesis of the moral equality of combatants, according to which combatants of all warring parties have an equal right to employ (lethal) violence against each other. Contrary both to the ‘orthodox view’ and to many people’s intuitions, McMahan argues that not only political and military leaders may be held morally responsible for participating in an unjust war. Rejecting the thesis that ordinary soldiers or combatants are responsible only for their conduct in war (jus in bello), he claims that they are morally responsible also for fighting at all in a war that lacks a just cause, i.e. an unjust war. According to McMahan, soldiers are morally required to ensure that they participate only in wars that satisfy the jus ad bellum conditions; they should refuse to serve in wars that do not satisfy these conditions and are therefore unjust. Epistemic uncertainty may excuse soldiers who wrongly believe themselves to be fighting in a just war, but, if in doubt, soldiers should still refuse because the risk of being wrong about a war’s being just is greater than the risk of being wrong about a war’s being unjust. If soldiers are nevertheless participating in an unjust war, McMahan continues, all their actions in the course of that war become unjust, i.e. morally wrong, even if they comply with the rules of jus in bello. McMahan concludes that while unjust combatants may legitimately be targeted, just combatants are not legitimate targets in war, because the latter are fighting for a just cause and so have not forfeited any right not to be attacked unless they have violated the rules of jus in bello. Soldiers, therefore, are not morally equal. More generally, McMahan argues convincingly against double standards in morality, showing how moral standards upheld outside of war should apply equally to warfare. McMahan’s book is a uniquely comprehensive and concise analysis of one of the central problems of traditional just war theory and a successful attempt to overcome some of its major flaws. Independently of whether or not one agrees with all implications of his argument, one cannot but acknowledge its outstanding contribution to contemporary just war theory. McMahan’s thought-provoking theses will greatly benefit the debate among all just war scholars. It is certainly a book anyone interested in questions related to the ethics of warfare and military interventions should read. Anne Schwenkenbecher Australian National University Downloaded By: [Schwenkenbecher, Anne] At: 23:03 16 January 2011 Australasian Journal of Philosophy ISSN 0004-8402 print/ISSN 1471-6828 online Ó 2011 Australasian Association of Philosophy http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals DOI: 10.1080/00048402.2010.541268