Question 1

A plausible nonconsequentialist argument for pacifism is:

Accepted Answer

This argument is based on the principle of the right to life, which is considered a fundamental and inviolable moral principle. According to this argument, war is always wrong because it involves the deliberate killing of human beings, which violates this fundamental right. Thus, pacifism is justified as a way to uphold this fundamental moral principle.

Question 2

In 2008 in Mumbai,India,Pakistan-based militants killed 174 people in a shooting rampage.The philosopher Haig Khatchadourian would judge this terrorist act to be:

Accepted Answer

Haig Khatchadourian argued that terrorism is always morally wrong because it involves the intentional killing of innocent people, which violates the principle of non-combatant immunity. The Mumbai terrorist attack involved the deliberate targeting of civilians, making it a clear case of terrorism and therefore, morally wrong. Justifying it based on India's record on human rights or the motives of the terrorists would be insufficient and unacceptable.

Question 3

The view that war is never morally permissible is known as:

Accepted Answer

The view that war is never morally permissible is known as pacifism. Pacifists believe that all forms of violence, including war, are morally wrong and unacceptable. The other options listed do not reflect this belief. Just war theory, for example, argues that war can be morally justified in certain circumstances, while internationalism and realism focus on different aspects of international relations and do not necessarily take a stance on the morality of war.

Question 4

According to the text,violence against noncombatants for political,religious,or ideological ends is:

Accepted Answer

Violence against noncombatants for political, religious, or ideological ends is referred to as terrorism. A, B, and C are not accurate descriptions of this type of violence. Preemptive war involves attacking before an attack is made, preventive war is initiated to prevent a potential attack in the future, and non-state torture involves torture carried out by non-state actors, such as paramilitary groups.

Question 5

In war the distinction between combatant and noncombatant is:

Accepted Answer

In the chaos and confusion of war, it can often be difficult to distinguish between combatants (those directly involved in fighting) and noncombatants (civilians, medical personnel, etc.). This ambiguity can lead to tragic outcomes, such as the accidental targeting of civilians or the harming of noncombatants during military operations.

Question 6

The doctrine that war may be morally permissible under stipulated conditions is known as:

Accepted Answer

The doctrine that war may be morally permissible under stipulated conditions is known as Just War Theory, and it involves analyzing the reasons for going to war (jus ad bellum) and the conduct of war (jus in bello) in order to determine whether the use of force is justified. Realism is a broader approach to international relations that focuses on power and self-interest, while justice in war and justice of war are not commonly used terms in academic discussions of the ethics of war.

Question 7

People who should not be intentionally attacked in war are said to have:

Accepted Answer

Noncombatant immunity refers to the protection of individuals who do not directly participate in hostilities or military actions, such as civilians, medical personnel, and prisoners of war. They are not legitimate targets of attack and are protected under international humanitarian law. War immunity and state protection are not recognized terms in international law, and special status may apply to specific groups but does not cover all noncombatants.

Question 8

Suppose that terrorism is defined broadly as the deliberate use of violence against noncombatants for political or ideological purposes.In this case the Allied bombings of Dresden and other German cities in World War II and the atomic obliteration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki would be considered:

Accepted Answer

The bombings of Dresden, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki involved deliberate use of violence against noncombatants for political or ideological purposes, fitting the broad definition of terrorism provided.

Question 9

The intentional inflicting of severe pain or suffering on people to punish or intimidate them or to extract information from them is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

The intentional inflicting of severe pain or suffering on people to punish or intimidate them or to extract information from them is commonly referred to as torture. Therefore, option D is the correct answer. Terrorism refers to the use of violence to achieve political aims, collateral damage refers to unintentional harm caused during a military operation, and permissible violence is not an appropriate term as the use of violence is regulated by laws and ethical principles.

Question 10

Suppose you took a Kantian means-end view of torture.You then would likely judge torture to be:

Accepted Answer

A Kantian means-end view considers individuals as ends in themselves, and not simply as a means to an end. Torture treats a person merely as a means to an end, violating their dignity and autonomy. Therefore, torture is considered morally impermissible from a Kantian perspective.

Question 11

As defined in the text,the physical or psychological attack on,or the vigorous abuse of,persons,causing their suffering,injury,or death is:

Accepted Answer

The definition given describes violence, which includes physical and psychological attacks, as well as causing suffering, injury, or death to individuals. War and terrorism are specific forms of violence, but not all violence falls into those categories. Hatred in action is a vague term and not a commonly used one in relation to violence.

Question 12

Eminent realists of the past and present include:

Accepted Answer

Niccolò Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, and Henry Kissinger are considered the eminent realists of the past and present. While the other options also include some prominent realists, the combination of Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Kissinger is the most widely recognized and studied.

Question 13

The resort to violence for political ends is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Political violence refers specifically to the use of violence for political ends, such as coercion, intimidation, or achieving political goals. Mass violence refers to violence on a large scale, while state violence specifically involves the use of force by a government or its agencies. Purposeful is too broad and does not specifically refer to violence in a political context.

Question 14

Most people hold that violence is:

Accepted Answer

The most common and widely accepted view is that violence is prima facie wrong, meaning that it is generally wrong but may be permissible in certain circumstances (such as in self-defense or defense of others). This view upholds the value of nonviolence and peaceful conflict resolution as a moral principle, while also recognizing that there may be exceptions to this principle depending on the context.

Question 15

Suppose the Iraq War,which began in 2003 when the United States and its allies attacked Iraq,started because President George W.Bush and his advisors feared that Saddam Hussein might be dangerous.And suppose at that time there was no evidence that Iraq was an immediate and imminent threat-that is,there was no evidence that Iraq had nearly completed plans to attack the United States with weapons of mass destruction.If these were the facts,most just war theorists would probably have judged the attack by the United States to be:

Accepted Answer

According to the information provided, there was no evidence that Iraq was an immediate and imminent threat. Therefore, the attack by the United States would not be considered preemptive or justified under the just war theory. Instead, it would likely be considered unjustified as it would not meet the necessary criteria for a just war. The option of being prudent is not applicable here as prudence is a practical consideration but is not related to the ethical considerations of just war theory.

Question 16

The just war theorist Michael Walzer asserts that terrorism is wrong because:

Accepted Answer

Walzer argues that terrorism is wrong because it involves an indiscriminate attack on the innocent rather than targeting specific persons for particular reasons. This goes against the just war principle of discrimination, which holds that combatants should only target other combatants and not innocent civilians.

Question 17

The view that moral standards are not applicable to war and that it must be judged only on how well it serves state interests is known as:

Accepted Answer

The view that moral standards are not applicable to war and that it must be judged only on how well it serves state interests is known as realism. This view suggests that the use of force in international relations is necessary to protect national security and can be justified even if it involves morally questionable actions.

Question 18

A war launched because an attack from another state is not actual but merely feared is known as a(n):

Accepted Answer

A preventive war is launched to prevent a possible attack from another state in the future, whereas a preemptive war is launched to prevent an imminent attack that is considered to be inevitable. An immediate war and an imminent war are not commonly used terms in international relations.

Question 19

In just war theory,the justification for resorting to war has traditionally been labeled:

Accepted Answer

Jus ad bellum refers to the criteria that must be met in order for a war to be considered just, including having a just cause, right intention, proportionality, and others. Therefore, the justification for resorting to war is labeled jus ad bellum.

Question 20

Suppose State A launches an unprovoked attack on State B.According to the usual interpretation of just war theory,State B has just cause for going to war against State A-namely:

Accepted Answer

According to just war theory, a state can only go to war if it has just cause, and self-defense against an unprovoked attack is considered a just cause. Revenge or expectation of success are not considered just causes, and seeking profits in war is considered unjust. Therefore, the best choice is B- self-defense against attack.

Quiz 17: Political Violence: War, Terrorism, and Torture