The belief that a war can exist which is completely just, has been around for many centuries. Philosophers have argued since the time of Cicero on how actions can be justified, and have written many papers on the subject. Although many people from different backgrounds and religions have disagreed on the topic, it is somewhat agreed that four factors of a war must be just, for the war itself to be considered just:
1. The reasons to go to war must be just 2. The actions undertaken by members of a nation to fight must be just 3. The method of finishing the war must be just 4. The treatment of a losing nation after a war by the winning nation must be just
When trying to define the word ‘just’, one finds