Love Thine Enemy: Moral Preparation for Killing in War

Abstract

This paper looks at the moral impact of killing in war, on the soldiers doing the killing. Recent research coming from the treatment of soldiers suffering from chronic psychological distress such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of combat experiences has identified ‘Moral Injury’ (MI) as a related but distinct condition. I argue that MI is caused by a transgression of a moral code, which I distinguish as MI-1 and/or disappointment of moral expectations, which I distinguish as MI-2. I argue that it is possible to mitigate the risk of MI-1 by developing moral virtues, particularly the virtue of justice as the motivator for war and love of humanity as the internal motivator for peace and restraint in war. Starting from the Arestotelian virtue tradition, I explore the problem from a distinctly reformed Protestant Christian perspective, which understands the "chief end of man" or eudaimonia as "to glorify God and enjoy Him forever". I appeal to Jonathan Edwards and Helmut Thielicke for reformed Protestant conceptions of virtue, justice and love. I argue that it is possible to mitigate MI-2 by developing moral expectations which stand up against reality. Finally, I look at some practical means to cultivate virtue and expectation in soldiers.