Human History

Essay by feelinggood2007University, Bachelor'sB+, April 2007

download word file, 3 pages 0.0

Downloaded 11 times

A glance at the history of mankind, repeatedly ravaged by war and its consequences, might suggest conflict to be both ubiquitous and perpetual. The costs incurred, disruption caused and horrors endured have led man throughout time to theorize history. The Doctrine of Double Effect (DDE) states that there is a morally relevant difference between those bad consequences we aim and intend to bring about, and those that we do not intend but still foresee as a likely outcome of our actions. Under certain circumstances, it is morally acceptable to risk certain outcomes that would not be acceptable to intend. Though it is always wrong to kill innocents deliberately, this doctrine says, it is sometimes permissible to allow certain actions to occur understanding that some side effects will be negative. Considering that some side effects involve death, we need to consider the question of whether it is ever moral.

The majority of military actions would be morally out of the question if the killing of civilians were absolutely forbidden.

It is morally acceptable to risk certain outcomes that would not be acceptable. The Doctrine of Double Effect has prima facie reasoning in its make-up; therefore, it has a strong responsibility to do what is morally acceptable to our own standards The Doctrine of Double Effect has prima facie reasoning in its make-up; therefore, it has a strong responsibility to do what is morally acceptable to our own standards. Even though the Doctrine in some cases allows harm among individuals, they recognize that in real life cases there are events that have sufficient reasoning behind them. Though it is always wrong to kill innocents deliberately, this doctrine says, it is sometimes permissible to attack a military target with the understanding that some civilians will die as a side effect. The question is...