Thomas Aquinas Quotes

[cocacola101]

According to Thomas Aquinas, what conditions must be met in order for a war to be considered "just?"

[Petros]

A vast subject: Here are 3 principles he supported:
1 The damage and costs of military action must be proportionate to the good expected from it.
2 Force must never be unlimited.
3 Force must never be indiscriminate i.e. never directed against non-combatants

[exegesis]

6 reasons are as follows: 1.It pursues a 'just cause,' such as self-defense or the conquest of evil. 2.It is declared and directed by a 'competent authority 3.It is a 'last resort' after peaceful means have failed. 4.It carries at least a 'probability' of success. 5."It conforms to 'proportionality'-the good to be achieved will outweigh the damage done. 6.It is 'discriminate,' avoiding harm to noncombatants where possible.