The Thomistic Institute Just War Theory I Prof. Joseph Capizzi
Aug 26, 2025
In a compelling discussion, Joseph Capizzi, Dean of Theology at the Catholic University of America, explores the moral intricacies of just war theory. He argues that warfare can be a legitimate means of peacemaking when guided by moral authority and intention. Capizzi emphasizes the essential principles of just cause and ethical conduct, while challenging views on force as a failure. Additionally, he delves into the limits of political authority and the Christian duty to balance peace with justice, offering insight into the distinctions of guilt and innocence in wartime.
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Just War As Ordinary Moral Reasoning
- Just war reasoning is ordinary moral reasoning applied to politics, not an exception to personal morality.
- Joseph Capizzi argues war can be an instrument of peacemaking when aimed at the common good.
Criteria Mirror Everyday Moral Questions
- Traditional just war criteria (authority, intention, cause, distinction, proportionality) mirror general action-guiding moral questions.
- Capizzi stresses these are not merely checklists but integrated judgments about political action.
Force Can Express Charity
- War can be an act of charity when it pursues rightful political ends that serve the common good.
- Treating just war as only a failure of peace misunderstands its tradition, Capizzi contends.
