Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

What Are America’S Obligations To Iraq After An Unjust War?, Brian Stiltner

Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies Faculty Publications

Since the goal of a just war is to restore a political condition of peace and justice, and since allowing a just war is always a mournful concession to the reality of injustice, a country that wins a war has post-bellum obligations to advance the common good within the losing nation and among the community of nations. It has the moral duty to make up for the damage it has caused, even if it was justified in causing that damage. (Note that the idea of a "just" war is not that war is a good in itself, but that it …

Rethinking The Iraq War, Brian Stiltner

Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies Faculty Publications

The reasonable possibility of the situation getting worse [in Iraq] rather than better should have given humanitarian advocates for war, like myself, greater pause. For me at that time, this humanitarian motive bolstered what was weak in the weapons argument, and vice versa. But now I realize that a partial case for war because of the weapons risk and a partial case for war under humanitarian reasons don't add up to an air-tight case for just war. Each of the causes proffered has to be reasonable with little doubt-something like 90 to 95 percent certain-and they can't be undermined by …

The Justice Of War On Iraq, Brian Stiltner

Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies Faculty Publications

The author argues that the U.S. and its partners have rightly arrived at war on Iraq as a just and necessary last resort. The potential problems with the just-war case are notable, particularly concerning the after-effects of the war, but they do not incurably undermine the case for going to war. Instead, both supporters and critics of the war around the world should strive to keep their governments committed to post-war reconstruction and a transition to a free and stable government in Iraq. Several just war criteria, particularly as these are articulated in the Catholic tradition, are used to assess …

Reassessing Religion's Place In A Liberal Democracy, Brian Stiltner

Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies Faculty Publications

Reviews by Brian Stiltner of five books published between 1996 and 1997 on the topic of religion's role in politics and a liberal democracy.

Originally published: Religious Studies Review 26.4 (October 2000). pp. 310-325.

John Dewey's Ideas About The Great Depression, Edward J. Bordeau

Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies Faculty Publications

Some criticisms that have been directed against John Dewey's political theory reveal a general misunderstanding of his intent. Dewey was quite active in writing, lecturing, and propagandizing during the Depression years. Our primary concern in this article is the role he played in the efforts of the League for Independent Political Action to sponsor a third party from 1928 until the collapse of this project in 1936. Concurrent with this movement is Dewey's work with the People's Lobby in advocating social welfare programs to meet the crises generated by the Depression.