The Peace Studies Program at Radford University is presenting an evening debate asking “Is War Ever Justifiable?” from 7–9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12 on campus at the Bonnie Hurlburt Auditorium.
Two sides of the age-old debate will be presented by military ethicist Pete Kilner and journalist and Nobel Peace prize nominee, David Swanson.
Kilner served more than 28 years in the Army as an infantryman and professor at the U.S. Military Academy, deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan to conduct research on combat leadership. A graduate of West Point, he holds an M.A. in philosophy from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. in Education from Penn State.
Swanson is an author, activist, journalist, radio host, and director of WorldBeyondWar.org. Swanson’s books include War Is A Lie and War Is Never Just. He holds an M.A. in philosophy from UVA.
The debate structure begins with introductions and an audience vote before the speakers present their arguments and responses.
Speakers will also ask each other questions and take questions from the audience. The audience will then vote again.
While the peace studies program has held debates and panels in the past since its inception in the early 1970’s, this is the first one we have had within the past few years.
“The topic “Is War Ever Justifiable” has a long history. Just as one example, “Just War Theory,” can be traced back through a 1,600 history in the teachings of the Catholic Church. And it is also a contemporary, timely topic; students find the topic engaging and bring their own ideas to the discussions in class,” Dr. Patricia B. Shoemaker, Chair, Peace Studies wrote in an email announcing the event.
“I am especially looking forward to hearing these two speakers,” she said.
