ABSTRACT
This chapter establishes the purpose of the war convention, particularly with regard to jus in belloissues. It considers and argues against consequentialist and realist challenges to the convention. The chapter indicates the problems with orthodox just war theory and set the stage here for the development of the theory of autonomy. It expresses that the theory of autonomy can resolve many enduring problems in just war theory. The chapter articulates the theory of autonomy and generate principles to guide our moral deliberations about just war. It discusses the theoretical foundation for the distinction between combatants and noncombatants. The chapter examines certain so-called gray areas, where noncombatants are perhaps thought to be assimilated into the ranks of combatants. It leads to a discussion of the Doctrine of Double Effect (DDE). The chapter claim, and war convention exists as testimony, that human beings do not see war as outside the moral realm.
