Lesson 1,
Topic 1
In Progress
7.2.3.2 Application / Discussion: Military Service
Ethical decisions often on the factual judgments that were made previously.Â
The problem depends heavily on one’s personal assessment of a political situation, for instance whether a military engagement is truly a defensive action or not.Â
Arguments against military service:Â
- “War comes from war” (factually correct, but etymologically incorrect): States have a will and desire for power, for expansion, and tend to war (as already mentioned by Plato, Politeia 2)Â
- Clausewitz: “War is the continuation of politics by other means” Rattling the sabers in foreign policy as a response to domestic political issues is only in the interests of the powerful, not the people.Â
- “Genetic law of war”: (Thielicke, Theol.Ethik II, 2) Pull of the armaments industry: (similar to the pull of drugs or money); Fascination with armaments which is expressed in parades, flight demonstrations, etc.Â
- According to the German Constitution, the Bundeswehr was once conceived as a purely defense armyÂ
- Lack of personal responsibility on the part of the soldier: Disinformation campaigns make ethical decisions impossible. Eg: Hitler’s attack on Poland: “We will begin returning fire starting at 6”
Arguments for Military Service
- Argument of power politics: Power is not inherently bad: without power one is “powerless” every power vacuum is immediately occupied and filled by othersÂ
- The argument of prevention: “Si vis pacem para bellum”Â
- The argument of emergency aid as charity: Luther: Christians are allowed to engage in emergency aid, even where self-defense is not allowed. This conclusion is admittedly unsatisfactory: a satisfactory statement, binding for all Christians only based on faith, is in my opinion. not possible as it always depends on a previous assessment of the political situation.