Chapter 1: Intelligence and The Just War Tradition by Ross Bellaby and Chapter 8: Privacy, Bulk Collection and Operational Utility by Tom Sorell are in the book National Security Intelligence and Ethics
Is it ever justified to engage in a war or a preemptive attack? The just war theory presumes there are legitimate uses of war but encompasses moral boundaries on waging a just war. Jus ad bellum (moral justifications for going to war) requires the cause for war be just, that the person making the decision has the authority to do so, that the decision intends to bring about peace, that war is a last resort, and the overall evil of the war does not outweigh the good that could result from it.
Prepare:
Prior to beginning work on this journal, review each of the resources listed below:
Chapter 1: Jus in Bellos Missing Piece in .
Chapter 1: Intelligence and The Just War Tradition: The Need for a Flexible Ethical Framework in .
Chapter 8: Privacy, Bulk Collection and Operational Utility in .
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Is Preemptive War Justified? Exploring the Ethics of National Security Intelligence
In the realm of national security and intelligence, the question of whether preemptive war is ever justified is a topic of significant ethical debate. The Just War Tradition provides a framework for evaluating the morality of engaging in armed conflict, emphasizing the importance of adhering to certain principles and criteria. This essay delves into the ethical considerations surrounding preemptive war, drawing insights from Chapter 1: Intelligence and The Just War Tradition by Ross Bellaby and Chapter 8: Privacy, Bulk Collection and Operational Utility by Tom Sorell from the book National Security Intelligence and Ethics.
Understanding the Just War Tradition
The Just War Tradition, rooted in moral philosophy and theological ethics, offers a set of guidelines to determine the justifiability of going to war, known as jus ad bellum. According to this framework, for a war to be considered just, several conditions must be met:
1. Just Cause: The reason for going to war must be morally defensible, such as self-defense or protection of innocent lives.
2. Legitimate Authority: The decision to wage war should be made by a legitimate authority, typically a government or sovereign state.
3. Right Intention: The primary aim of the war should be to establish peace and restore justice, rather than serving self-interest or aggression.
4. Last Resort: All peaceful means of resolving the conflict must have been exhausted before resorting to war.
5. Proportionality: The potential good that may come from the war should outweigh the harm and destruction it will cause.
The Challenge of Preemptive War
Preemptive war, also known as preventive war, involves military action taken in anticipation of an imminent threat. Proponents argue that preemptive strikes can prevent greater harm by neutralizing potential aggressors before they can act. However, preemptive war raises ethical dilemmas that intersect with the principles of the Just War Tradition.
While preemptive war may seem justifiable on grounds of self-defense and protection of innocent lives, it also poses risks of escalation, unintended consequences, and violations of sovereignty. The decision to engage in preemptive war requires a careful assessment of the credibility of the threat, the probability of success, and the potential consequences for both the aggressor and the target.
Balancing Security and Ethics
In Chapter 1 of National Security Intelligence and Ethics, Ross Bellaby emphasizes the importance of integrating ethical considerations into intelligence operations and decision-making processes. A flexible ethical framework that accommodates the complexities of modern warfare is essential for navigating the moral challenges posed by preemptive actions.
Similarly, in Chapter 8, Tom Sorell explores the tensions between privacy rights and the operational utility of bulk collection in intelligence gathering. The ethical implications of surveillance practices in preemptive strategies underscore the need for transparency, accountability, and respect for fundamental rights.
Conclusion
The debate over the justification of preemptive war underscores the intricate relationship between ethics, national security, and intelligence operations. While the Just War Tradition provides a valuable framework for evaluating the morality of armed conflict, applying its principles to preemptive scenarios requires careful deliberation and ethical discernment. By engaging with diverse perspectives and ethical insights, policymakers and intelligence professionals can navigate the complexities of preemptive actions while upholding ethical standards and human rights principles.
