Undergraduate - UnitATS2640 - The ethics of global conflict

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Organisational Unit	Philosophy
Offered	Caulfield First semester 2014 (Day) Clayton First semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Robert Simpson

Notes

Previously coded INT2920

Synopsis

When, if ever, is warfare justified? What about humanitarian intervention? What about violent revolution and terrorism? Why should civilians be protected in conflict? This unit will introduce students to theoretical approaches to the ethics of conflict that will allow them to answer these difficult questions. It will also serve to introduce students to basic ideas in moral and political philosophy. No background in philosophy is required: merely an interest in rational argument applied to global conflict.

Outcomes

Students successfully completing this unit will:

have a high level of understanding of the central ideas of just war theory
appreciate a wide variety of criticisms of just war theory
understand the connections between human rights and war
have developed the ability to apply theories of justice in conflict to actual cas es from recent history
be able to develop and critically assess arguments about the justification of violence in the pursuit of political ends
have improved their ability to effectively communicate about complex issues in international affairs
have developed their ability to conduct independent research on topics of international justice.