Module manager: Gerald Lang
Email: G.R.Lang@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
| PHIL3723 | War, Terror and Justice |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module will examine certain key ethical aspects of the international order: centrally, war, terrorism, and international justice and the moral duties arising from global poverty. The module’s exploration of the ethics of war pays extensive attention to two sources: first, the commitments and structure of ‘Just War Theory’, which was initially formulated in the medieval period, but which continues to enjoy a significant influence on the international law governing warfare; and second, the ethics of self-defence, which is taken by many theorists to offer micro-foundations for the ethics of war. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
The aims of this module are to:
1) Provide you with a critical understanding of some of the leading contemporary theories and debates about the morality of self-defence, war, terrorism, and other problems involving violent conflict, and international justice.
2) Enable you to evaluate the philosophical debates arising from these issues.
3) Enable you to form your own views about them.
The objectives will be fulfilled through:
- Lectures where you are introduced to the basic arguments, concepts and readings.
- Preparation for and participation in tutorials, in which you will critically discuss the arguments presented in set readings with your peers, and develop your own views.
- Supervisions, in which your supervisor will advise you as to how to develop and articulate your own views and responses.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1) Independently investigate, analyse, and critique some of the central problems, arguments, and theories in philosophical debates on the morality of self-defence, war, terrorism, and international justice.
2) Coherently connect different problems, arguments, and theories in philosophical debates on the morality of self-defence, war, terrorism, and international justice.
3) Develop and defend your own view on some of the issues studied through cogent and nuanced argumentation.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
4) Communicate ideas and understanding clearly and concisely, using appropriate academic language (Academic and Work Ready skill)
5) Apply theoretical understanding to real-world contexts (Work Ready, Enterprise and Sustainability skill).
Understand in depth of some of the key concepts, issues, debates, and approaches in contemporary political philosophy.
Apply this theoretical knowledge and understanding in such a way as to make sense of specific global challenges, both orally and in writing.
Analysing and criticising philosophical arguments and theories clearly and incisively.
Thinking through complex philosophical questions with independence of mind.
Arguing for a philosophical position and expressing this argument effectively both in writing and orally.
There may be some variation in the topics covered from year to year, but the following is an indicative list:
- The foundations and limits of self-defence
- The structure and content of Just War Theory
- Humanitarian intervention
- The morality of terrorism
- The morality of interrogational torture
- The ethics of nuclear deterrence
- Moral responsibility for global poverty and international distributive justice
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Lecture | 14 | 1 | 14 |
| Seminar | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Private study hours | 276 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 24 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300 | ||
Each student is invited to complete ONE piece of formative work which will receive written feedback. Students are given a choice of an essay plan or abbreviated essay treatment. Students should read and reflect on (i) the feedback they received in previous summative assessments, (ii) the PRHS marking criteria, and (iii) the specific guidance provided on the summative assessment in this module, and identify for themselves the form of formative feedback that will be most beneficial to them.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team