Ethics of War

The Ethics of War examines the moral principles guiding the conduct of war, focusing on when it is justified to go to war (jus ad bellum) and how to conduct it ethically (jus in bello). It seeks to balance the need for security and justice against the principles of human rights and minimizing harm to civilians. Key concepts include proportionality, discrimination between combatants and non-combatants, and avoiding unnecessary suffering. This field encourages the consideration of humanitarian concerns and the legitimacy of actions taken during conflict, aiming to establish standards for ethical behavior in warfare.