Killing a person is normally thought to be morally wrong. Yet, in war, many think it permissible to kill people on a large scale. Does morality become more permissive in a state of war? If it is permissible to kill, is it also permissible to rape and torture? Is there a fair and sensible way to wage war? Can war ever be just? This course aims at shedding a critical light over the normative foundations of war.

We have the honour of hosting three high-profile international guest lecturers: Post Doc. Helen Frowe (Kent), Prof. Cheyney Ryan (Oregon and Oxford) and Prof. Jeff McMahan (Rutgers and Princeton). Jeff McMahan is generally regarded as the world's leading scholar on the ethics of war. He has published in all the main ethics journals and his books, The Ethics of Killing (2002) and Killing in War (2009) have been extremely influential. The course will be led by Ass. Prof. Morten Dige, who will be accompanied by a number of other AU staff from Philosophy, History of Ideas, Law, and Political Science.

Period
01-08-2011 - 26-08-2011 (4 weeks)

Target group
BA degree in Philosophy or relevant discipline



Course aim
To provide a critical understanding of the normative foundations and perspectives of war.

Credits
10.0 ECTS credits

Course fee
EUR 0: Visit website for information regarding fees

Course leader
Morten Dige (IFI) and a number of national and international guest lecturers.

Aarhus University International Centre
Address: Hoeg Guldbergs Gade 4, building 1650 Aarhus C
Postal code: 8000
City: Aarhus
Country: Denmark
Website: http://www.au.dk/summeruniversity
E-mail: SummerUniversity@adm.au.dk
Phone: +45 8942 2320