Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.34075/sb.62.2.1
DEVELOPMENT, CONTINUITY AND NEWS OF CHURCH TEACHING ON WAR AND WEAPONS. From a just war to a theory of nuclear deterrence
Odilon-Gbènoukpo Singbo
Abstract
In its moral doctrine the Catholic Church has always had in mind the humanitarian consequences caused by any war,
regardless of the reason for which it was waged. Many church thinkers have therefore developed various theories related to the regulation of war actions such as just war, legitimate defence, and nuclear deterrence. In the context of church doctrine these theories should be understood in the historical context of their development, but also within the geopolitical events of the moment. The contemporary exponential development of Technologies applied in the arms production industries makes it much more difficult to achieve the peace that all nations and every
individual long for. Using various theological and philosophical sources, the author explains the theory of just war through his work, starting with St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas to church teaching. The focus is on the production of weapons, the position of Christians in that production, questioning its ethics starting from the Second Vatican Council to Pope Francis. Special attention is paid to the mentality of technicism that provokes various peace and ethical challenges. Concrete application of some ethical principles, such as the sources of the morality of human act,
the double-acting act, the principle of non-contradiction, emphasizes the need for education for non-violence and the disarmament of human hearts.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
283565
URI
Publication date:
15.9.2022.
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