Thanks for this, Elizabeth. I wonder, has jus ad bellum been theorized only in western political and theological thought? I’m thinking of how it may or may not overlap with the Eastern Church’s stance re defensive and offensive wars and how, following on “just war” arguments, a pope or a king could have argued for the justice of a Crusade (just cause and right intention, from their perspective) although the doctrine of “proportionality” would cancel its “justice.”

Lesia, thank you for putting it all together so succinctly. I am especially grateful for the “timely practical” description of a philosophy I didn’t realize I was elaborating. 🙂 But that sounds exactly right.

Thank you, Penney, for your point about Ukrainians “fighting righteously,” as this is true no matter where, along the moral and conscientious spectrum, one locates one’s own beliefs. What I fear is that Zelensky himself will come to the decision to negotiate simply to stop the bleeding of his people.