Thomas Aquinas & War

Follows his philosophy and teachings

System which follows the teaching of Thomas Aquinas

Summa Contra Gentiles

Summa Theologia

Catena Aurea

There are 3 grounds on which war can be just

To be just, war must occur for 3 reasons

Lastly, war has additional requirements to be just

First: War must occur for a good and just cause

Second: War must be waged by established and proper authority, for example, a country

Third: Peace must be a central motive, even in the midst of violence

Born in Lombardy Italy 1225

Died in Fossanova Italy 1274

Must commensurate to the evil

Even in war, there must be moral limits

Governments declare a war, but the people still have the right to depose the war

War must only be used as a last resort, after you exhaust all diplomatic and negotiation routes

War must occur in self-defense

Preventitive war against a tyrant

War to punish a guilty enemy