ME4816 The Western Just War Tradition: Ethics, Laws, and Practices of War from Antiquity to the Renaissance

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Full Year

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

60

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

TBC

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr R W S C Cox

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Rory Cox

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

A rich body of evidence has emerged over the last 2,500 years concerning the moral challenges posed by warfare. Through Classical Greece and Rome to the early Church and the Middle Ages, the justice of war has been debated in theology, philosophy, and jurisprudence. This has come to be identified as the Western Just War Tradition, and its fundamental principles remain central to contemporary international law and the laws of armed conflict. This module will explore how ideas about justifiable warfare developed, and how certain norms emerged which were intended to regulate or limit violent conflict. Students will examine how such theories, rules, and laws were espoused, and the degree to which they were observed or ignored in practice. The module will challenge students by approaching the subject from various angles, including intellectual history, political theory, and politico-military history.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS AT LEAST 60 CREDITS FROM {ME1003, ME1006, ME2003, HI2001, MH2002}

Assessment pattern

2 x 2 hour Written Examinations = 40%, Coursework = 60%

Re-assessment

New Coursework: 1 x source exercise (2,500 words) and 1 x 5,000-word essay = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 3-hour seminar, plus 1 office hour.