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By focusing on the entitlements of collectivities (notably nation states) as opposed to the well-being of individuals, the just war theory frames a rationale for war which omits the central moral issue...whether the massive, systematic and deliberate killing of human beings can ever be justified.

— Robert L. Holmes Pacifism: A Philosophy of Nonviolence (2017)

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Justice

More quotes by Robert L. Holmes

Plausible moral theory must have at its center a concern for the lives and well-being of persons.

On War and Morality (1989)

It is presumptively wrong to do violence to innocent persons.

On War and Morality (1989)

To be a pragmatic pacifist, one need only consider that large-scale, organized, and systemic war violence is unacceptable in today's world.

Pacifism: A Philosophy of Nonviolence (2017)

We will never know whether there is a realistic moral alternative to violence unless we are willing to explore the potential of nonviolent action.

On War and Morality (1989)

A necessary condition of the justifiable pursuit of any objectives in war by any means whatever.. is that one be justified in engaging in such killing and violence in the first place.

On War and Morality (1989)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Robert L. Holmes (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.