(in Polish) ML: Just War and Beyond - The Moral Imperatives of Resisting Aggression WF-FI-212-WMANCE25

The lecture explores in depth the ethical dimensions of self-defense and the broader moral questions surrounding the conduct of war. It begins with a careful analysis of the permissibility of self-defense, not only on the individual level but also when applied to political communities and nation-states. Students will engage with classical and contemporary arguments concerning the justifications for the use of force, ranging from traditional just war theory to modern critiques rooted in human rights discourse and international law. Central to this discussion is the moral status of aggression: under what conditions, if any, is it legitimate to respond to threats with violence, and how do we differentiate between genuine defense and disguised acts of conquest?

A significant part of the lecture will address the complex issue of collective responsibility, particularly the extent to which citizens can or should be held accountable for the aggressive policies and abuses committed by their political leaders. This raises questions about complicity, obedience, and resistance within authoritarian as well as democratic systems. Students will consider historical case studies in which populations either supported or opposed military aggression, and will reflect on the moral burdens that ordinary individuals face when their governments engage in unjust wars. Such analysis highlights the tension between personal morality and civic duty, and invites participants to think critically about their own responsibilities within political communities.

Another major theme concerns the limits of acceptable so-called collateral damage, especially the loss of civilian life during military operations. The lecture examines how military strategists, ethicists, and legal scholars attempt to draw distinctions between intentional targeting and unintended harm, and how these distinctions influence both international humanitarian law and public opinion. Special emphasis will be placed on the proportionality principle, the problem of double effect, and the moral dilemmas faced by decision-makers who must weigh military objectives against human costs. Students will see how these debates are not only theoretical but deeply practical, shaping the norms by which nations wage war and the standards by which their actions are judged.

Finally, the course engages with pacifism, a stance often dismissed as utopian but which offers a provocative and serious challenge to prevailing assumptions about war and peace. Pacifism will be considered in its different forms—from absolute rejection of violence to conditional or pragmatic versions that advocate nonviolent resistance as a viable strategy in political conflicts. By exploring pacifism alongside just war theory, students will gain a more nuanced understanding of the ethical landscape: whether peace can be achieved without recourse to violence, and whether moral integrity sometimes requires rejecting war altogether. In this way, the lecture not only surveys the main philosophical positions on war but also encourages participants to grapple with their personal convictions about violence, justice, and the possibility of a peaceful world.