On Thu, 14 Apr 2005 22:37:35 -0400, JDG wrote > Thus, even if a given act is not intrinsically evil, it is only morally > justified if the intent and totality of circumstances are good as > well.
I think I understand the position now. It is acting with good intentions, doing things that have foreseeable but unavoidable evil side effects, and with good effects that outweigh the evil side effects. I also see that war seems inevitable in this world and we cannot simply refuse to fight. At the same time, the majority of those who apply the logic above to *this* war, including the vast majority of religious leaders, have rejected the argument that it is just. To return to the distinction we were making, it seems that "just war" doctrine is not needed because all aspects of war are wrong, but because some are. And I have to say that the spirit of self-sacrifice and friendship that took Wes to Iraq are among the finest of human behavior. In this world, it seems that great sadness and joy are deeply enmeshed. Nick _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
