War is morally justifiable if it leads to greater happiness for greatest amount of people
JS Mill: "war is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which nothing is worth a war is much worse ... A war to protect other human beings against tyrannical injustice; a war to give victory to their own ideas of right and wrong, and which is their own war, carried on for an honest purpose by their free choice - is often the means of their regenerations"
Similar idea: "the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"
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Kantian Ethics and War (12)
Kant ultimately sought peace but understood political reality is that wars take place and should be carried out using deontological principles (consequetionalist principles i.e. likelihood of success not applicable)
Killing is always wrong since it goes universalibility/humanity formulations of Categorical Imperative
HOWEVER...
Kant supported right for country to support itself
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Virtue Ethics and War (12)
Aristotle: "we make war that we may live in peace" <- Last Resort criterion
War could be considered to promote virtues i.e. courage, rightful pride, rightful indignation, temperance
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