Dewey's Theory of War

I argue that Dewey’s theory of war is distinct from two influential views in contemporary Just War Theory. Dewey does not agree with traditional just war theorists who argue for the moral equality of combatants because the notion of individual self-defence applied to states implies that the victim state and aggressor state cannot be morally equal. Nor does Dewey agree with the revisionist just war theorist’s minimal moral responsibility condition that makes citizens liable for their unjust war. Dewey’s view of force and self-defence severely restricts who it is permissible to kill in war.