Broadly speaking, can one country invade another and use any of the philosophical perspectives noted below as a justification? I asked Google's Bard AI to identify the philosophical basis for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Bard nicely outlined several, and offered supporting and contradictory points of view on each. Basic human evil even made the list, in both radical and benign versions. We have discussed the nature of evil in the past, but have not really dissected it into these particular types, although WW2 could certainly be invoked as a key example.
My hope is that we can go down the list and consider the issues as Bard has presented them. What list would Bard have generated if we considered the Hamas/Israeli war?
<Des> What philosophical issues were raised when Russia invaded Ukraine?
<Bard> Russia's invasion of Ukraine raises a number of philosophical issues, including:
Just war theory: Is the invasion justified under just war theory? Just war theory is a set of ethical principles that govern the use of military force. It holds that war is only justified as a last resort, in self-defense, and to achieve a just peace. Some philosophers argue that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is justified under just war theory, as it is a response to NATO's eastward expansion and Ukraine's alleged genocide of Russian speakers in the Donbas region. Others argue that the invasion is not justified, as it is not a last resort, it is not proportionate to the threat posed by NATO or Ukraine, and it is unlikely to achieve a just peace.
Self-determination: Does Ukraine have the right to self-determination? The right to self-determination is a fundamental human right that allows people to freely choose their own political status and form of government. Russia has argued that Ukraine's right to self-determination is limited by its own security interests. However, most philosophers and international law experts agree that Ukraine has the right to self-determination, and that Russia's invasion is a violation of this right.
Humanitarian intervention: Is it permissible to intervene militarily in Ukraine to protect civilians? Humanitarian intervention is the use of military force to protect civilians from human rights abuses, without the consent of the government responsible for those abuses. Some philosophers argue that humanitarian intervention is permissible, even when it violates the principle of state sovereignty. Others argue that humanitarian intervention is only permissible when the human rights abuses are very severe, and when there is a good chance of success.
The responsibility to protect: Does the international community have a responsibility to protect civilians in Ukraine? The responsibility to protect is a norm in international law that holds states responsible for protecting their own populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. If a state is unable or unwilling to protect its own population, the international community has a responsibility to intervene. Most philosophers and international law experts agree that the international community has a responsibility to protect civilians in Ukraine.
The nature of evil: What does Russia's invasion of Ukraine tell us about the nature of evil? Some philosophers have argued that the invasion is an example of radical evil, which is evil that is committed without any moral qualms or regard for the suffering of others. Others have argued that the invasion is an example of banal evil, which is evil that is committed by ordinary people who are following orders or simply going along with the crowd.
These are just a few of the philosophical issues raised by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The war is a complex and challenging event, and there is no easy answers to the questions it raises. However, by thinking critically about these issues, we can gain a better understanding of the war and its implications for the future of international relations. <end of Bard's response>
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