Necessity in Self-Defense and War

• Published in: Philosophy & public affairs Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 3 - 44
• Main Author: LAZAR, SETH
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 2012; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc; Wiley; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Epistemology. Philosophy of science. Theory of knowledge; Ethics; Immunity; Individualism; Injustice; International law; Killing; Laws of war; Morality; Necessary conditions; Philosophers; Philosophical thought; Philosophy; Politics; Public Interest; Right of self defense; Self defense; Self-management; War; Knowledge theory
• ISSN: 0048-3915; 1088-4963
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1088-4963.2012.01214.x

Philosophers generally agree that justified self-defense must meet four conditions. First, the defender must face an unjustified threat. Second, there must be some grounds to prefer the defender's interests to those of his target. Third, the force used must be proportionate to the threat averte...