On the moral equality of combatans

Abstract

In the context of just war theory, there is a conventional view that combatants from all sides of a war occupy a morally equal position–that each combatant has an equal right to kill, irrespective of the justness of the cause they fight for. This article argues against this view, demonstrating that any means deployed in service of an unjust cause must be considered categorically wrongful and that those fighting for an unjust cause are fighting against innocent people even when they confine attacks to military targets. Furthermore, it examines several typical arguments for this conventional view and offers counterarguments, suggesting that combatants may not, by fighting, be exculpated for their wrongful actions–even if many participants believe their cause to be just. – AI-generated abstract.