Summary Of The Moral Equivalent Of War By William James

“The next dreadful thing to a battle lost is a battle won,” was once said by Duke of Wellington. Throughout history, many wars have occurred and have cause much change in the world. In the essay The Moral Equivalent of War, by William James, the same topic about war is discussed within the essay. However, William James, the author, seems like he does not approve the reasons and actions for many of the wars that have occurred. Furthermore, William seems to try to find reason and try to understand many points of view to go war. I would believe that William James would disagree with the quote because, even though he is a pacifist, he seems to try to find the reason behind going to war and knows that with winning a war, it continues to nourish a couple of human virtues. William James is a pacifist who believes that war is not the best for the world. However, it has had its negative and positive attributes to its soldiers. William believes that we should have reasons to go to war and not just try to go to war to just feel
superior, just like many warriors throughout history. “It is seemed the common sense and reason ought to find a way to reach agreement in every conflict of honest interests.” (James 48) Like William James argues, as a society we should try to reasonably justify why we are going to start a war and if we have well enough reason to go to war a battle won would rather be best than a battle lost. Another thing that William James argues, is the topic about how war keeps on nourishing human virtues, even if it is not the best way to enforce them.
Some attributes that William James is describing are attributes that individuals obtain when they are at war. For example, he talks about attributes such as courage, strength, endurance etc. While many people are left behind in a war, they work in anyway to help with the war and also start to have pride, patriotic obedience, and many more attributes due to the war. “Martial virtues must be the enduring cement; intrepidity, contempt of softness, surrendering of private interest, obedience to command, must still remain the rock upon which states are built...The war-party is assuredly right in affirming and reaffirming that the martial virtues, although originally gained by the race through war, are absolute and permanent human goods.” ( James 53) These are attributes that are gained due to
war. In conclusion, I believe that William James would disagree with the quote. William James was a pacifist, but knows with the right reasons, a country has the right to go to war. In addition, as a war occurs, the individuals that are affected by the war obtain great virtues and attributes. This is why I believe that William James would not agree with the quote because with a good reason to go to war, the best thing to come from a war is to win.