The "Just war" theory and the engineers role. (8 pages)

Engineering Ethics Academic Journal Article Analysis

Omar AlZadjali

Cleveland State University

PHL 215

October 24, 2018

Author, Title, and Purpose of the Article

The article selected for analysis is one by Bowen (2014) entitled “Engineering for Peace”. The purpose of this article is to explore the contribution of engineering to peace and war from a moral perspective. According to the researcher, issues to do with indiscriminate civilian deaths of children and women resulting from sophisticated war weapons developed by engineers have raised numerous concerns. Because of such concerns, Bowen (2004) in this article aspires to look at ways through which engineers and the engineering profession can implement strategies that would ultimately lead to the creation of a ‘just society’ that upholds moral principles and minimizes the suffering brought about by war and conflict particularly in marginalized, underserved communities.

Summary of Author’s Point of View and Main Arguments

Bowen (2004) begins by providing a compelling argument regarding the role of engineering technology in propelling war across different parts of the nation. The author affirms that whereas contemporary engineering design has evolved dramatically over the decades, these improvements have conducted in an era of indiscriminate and devastating weapons developed through harnessing the core principles of engineering. These weapons have had negative consequences particularly on civilian populations. In looking at the ethical implications of the technologies developed through advances in engineering, Bowen (2004) assesses various theoretical conceptualizations including the “just war” theory. The author advances the view that engineers have the skills and knowledge to eliminate many of the underlying causes that lead to war and conflict. With this understanding, he calls for the redirection of engineering resources to mitigate the incidence of war in the contemporary society. This will contribute to what the author terms as “active peacemaking – just engineering”.

Some of the most detrimental weapons explored by Bowen (2014) that have resulted from skills and knowledge of engineers include deadly munitions and other military equipment. Bowen (2014) cleverly underscores the guiding principles of the just war doctrine and assesses these principles from the engineering perspective. The premises underlying this theory, as reported by the researcher, include the necessity for a just cause such as repelling an aggressor, the existence of a just intent such as to restore justice or peace, the necessity that war is a last resort, the declaration of war by a legitimate authority, and the existence of a good success prospect. Bowen (2014) analyzes the just war theory from the Jus In Bello, Jus Ad Bellum, and Jus Ante Bellum to provide various solutions that engineers can implement to guarantee a fair, just, and moral society.

Another major argument proposed by Bowen (2014) is that engineering is the most influential profession in modern warfare. This is because engineers are vital in the development, manufacture, design, and use of sophisticated armaments deployed during warfare in the contemporary society. Engineering systems are also responsible for supporting and controlling sophisticated machinery such as drones mounted with missiles and bombs that are becoming strategic weapons in contemporary warfare. Therefore, engineers have a pivotal role to play in supporting the doctrine of just war. In order to support the principles of just war and create a society that upholds morality, Bowen (2014) emphasizes on the importance of seeking reliable empirical evidence as well as quantifying the engineering virtues of integrity, honesty, rigor, and accuracy so that they can become as comprehensive as possible. Since war is a complex phenomenon by nature, taking a comprehensive, systems approach that views warfare in all its aspects is necessary for making evaluations that promote the doctrine of just war (Bowen, 2004).

As the most influential profession in contemporary warfare, engineering also has to find ways of mitigating future conflicts. Some of the factors that are likely to contribute to future conflict and insecurity across the world as identified in the article by Bowen (2014) include climate change, global militarization, competition for the ever-scarce resources, and marginalization of the majority world politically, culturally, and economically. Engineers have an important role in addressing the potential root cause of future conflicts and insecurity. They can accomplish this through various mechanisms such as development of renewable sources of energy to curb global climate change, introducing innovative materials and processes to reduce resource competition, and generation of wealth via introduction of appropriate engineering processes in poverty-stricken societies to reduce marginalization. They can also halt or reduce weapons production and development, thereby minimizing arms trade and limiting militarization (Bowen, 2014). Through engaging in these initiatives, the engineering profession can make an imprint in the development of a sustainable and morally just society.

Responding to the Author’s Position

From a personal standpoint, I agree with the arguments made by Bowen (2014) regarding the role of engineers and the engineering discipline in mitigating conflicts and assuring the realization of a sustainable society. Indeed, many of the inventions that have led to the creation of sophisticated weapons and armaments have their foundation on engineering principles and processes. Engineers, as Bowen (2014) argues, play an even greater role in the development of the artilleries more that military leaders or political leaders. As such, because of their direct involvement in the design, production, manufacture, and development of the weapons of war, they must take an active role in ensuring that these weapons do not bring unnecessary suffering to innocent people including children and women, most of who have suffered indiscriminately from the utilization of these weapons in actual conflict or war situations.

I find the recommendations proposed by the authors on how engineering can address such problems to be quite convincing. This is especially true with regard to his arguments focusing on the impoverished and marginalized societies. As Bowen (2014) rightly mentions, much of the suffering endured by people because of the development of sophisticated weapons based on engineering principles takes place in marginalized and poverty-stricken communities. These communities have faced disproportionate burdens economically, socially, politically, and culturally. Empowering these communities can greatly help in promoting the ethical principle of justice, which calls on fair and equitable distribution of resources. I concur with the recommendations by Bowen (2014) that engineers can be able to promote this ethical principle through various mechanisms such as investing in innovation technologies in the impoverished countries in order to reduce marginalization and resource competition.

I also found the arguments by Bowen (2014) about the role of just engineering in providing other solutions to critical needs that can aid in peacemaking and conflict avoidance. Besides solutions that offer sustainable development, just engineering from my personal standpoint can also foster activities that commit communities directly to common projects that benefit all, with this shared commitment in turn resulting in harmonious coexistence. Moreover, I believe that just engineering can offer non-violent means of meeting humanitarian needs in conflict-prone areas and of preventing the build-up of tensions, both of which can promote the agency and wellbeing of others in the society. Cumulatively, the article by Bowen (2014) has offered valuable insights that all engineers must be willing to adopt in order to not only promote a sustainable society but also ensure that nation states, institutions, organizations, and individuals all work towards the betterment of the society.

Reference

Bowen, W. R. (2014). Engineering for peace. Engineering Ethics , 35-52.