Barack Obama on the Pursuit of Peace
Barack Obama once said
“When we fail to pursue peace, then it stays forever beyond our grasp. That's where human progress ends.”
With that in mind, my partner and I negate the resolution. Resolved: Unilateral military force by the United States is justified to prevent nuclear proliferation.
Introduction----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Definitions We define unilateral as “done or undertaken by one party without the agreement of others.”; prevent as “to keep something from happening or arising”; and, justify as “to prove or show to be just or right.” Contentions------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Framework: Just-war Theory.
The resolution considers what justifies preventive military action. And so, we must consider what, indeed, justifies such military action. A set of moral standards on war exists in Just-war Theory, a theory that has evolved out of centuries of philosophy and experts of war, and so justification of military action should be justified within the framework of this theory. Philosopher Michael Walzer summarizes in his seminal book Just and Unjust Wars the five basic principles of modern Just-war Theory: 1) Aggression: Use of force or imminent threat of force against the political sovereignty or territorial integrity of another state is a criminal act of aggression, and only such aggression can justify military action. 2) Proportionality: Anticipated benefits of military force must be proportionate to the expected evils or harms of such force. 3) Success: Military force must have a reasonable chance of success. Lives may not be sacrificed in futile causes. 4) Last resort: Military force may only be used when non-violent means have been exhausted. 5) Authority: Military force must have proper political authority. All of these criteria must be met to justify military force. Contention 1:
“When we fail to pursue peace, then it stays forever beyond our grasp. That's where human progress ends.”
With that in mind, my partner and I negate the resolution. Resolved: Unilateral military force by the United States is justified to prevent nuclear proliferation.
Introduction----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Definitions We define unilateral as “done or undertaken by one party without the agreement of others.”; prevent as “to keep something from happening or arising”; and, justify as “to prove or show to be just or right.” Contentions------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Framework: Just-war Theory.
The resolution considers what justifies preventive military action. And so, we must consider what, indeed, justifies such military action. A set of moral standards on war exists in Just-war Theory, a theory that has evolved out of centuries of philosophy and experts of war, and so justification of military action should be justified within the framework of this theory. Philosopher Michael Walzer summarizes in his seminal book Just and Unjust Wars the five basic principles of modern Just-war Theory: 1) Aggression: Use of force or imminent threat of force against the political sovereignty or territorial integrity of another state is a criminal act of aggression, and only such aggression can justify military action. 2) Proportionality: Anticipated benefits of military force must be proportionate to the expected evils or harms of such force. 3) Success: Military force must have a reasonable chance of success. Lives may not be sacrificed in futile causes. 4) Last resort: Military force may only be used when non-violent means have been exhausted. 5) Authority: Military force must have proper political authority. All of these criteria must be met to justify military force. Contention 1: