What many Just War Theorists don’t realize is that they take Aquinas’s three criteria in the Summa too literally and lose sight of the full scope of the theory. The UN’s criteria for just war seems to be a combination of the traiditonal Thomist theory and the School of Salamanca theory refined by the 1992 Vatican definitions.
I agree with your assertion about Just War Theorists using Thomas’s criteria in error. Thomas gives principles for jus ad bellum, not jus IN bellum or jus post bellum. Some could argue that, by contemporary standards of Just War Theory, the cursades were just. THis, however, would undermine the notion of the deposit of Faith and elevate Thomas to magisterial, which is absurd.
Instead, it must be said that the crusades may have begun justly, but it is debatible if they were waged justly or ended justly. Wholeheartedly agree.
by Andrew Simmons Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Generally, when one hears a statement that is pedestrian, the best course of action is to regard it for what it is: a pedestrian statement. Obama’s remark really should just be passed a long and forgotten; but, this current political sphere has decided to elevate it to an absurd level. What has been unleashed is a sleuth of media releases concerning the “true history” of the Crusades. This post will not be counted amongst the Crusader apologists. What is presented to you, the esteemed reader, is a former-apologist’s recantations of his former charge. When I converted to Catholicism, there was this spirit of needing to solidify…
View original post 938 more words
The Scholars' Lounge 