levo

Hinduism: Peace and Conflict

Hindu attitudes to the Just War theory

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 2

Overview

Dharma yuddha and the rules of fair fighting, the Kurukshetra war as a last resort, Bhagavad Gita 2.31, 2.33 and 2.38 on Arjuna's duty, whether a just war is possible today, and situation ethics.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

What is the Just War theory, and how do Hindus respond to it?

Key term

Where does the Just War theory come from, and what Hindu parallels exist?

Key term

Name three conditions of a Just War that Hindus compare with dharma yuddha.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is the Just War theory, and how do Hindus respond to it?

    Model answer

    The Just War theory sets out conditions under which war can be morally justified. Many Hindus find similar ideas in their own teaching on dharma yuddha.

  2. 2

    Where does the Just War theory come from, and what Hindu parallels exist?

    Model answer

    The theory was developed by the Christian thinkers Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. Hindu texts had long set similar rules for righteous war.

  3. 3

    Name three conditions of a Just War that Hindus compare with dharma yuddha.

    Model answer

    Three conditions are a just cause, legitimate authority and being a last resort. Other conditions include right intention and proportionate force.

  4. 4

    What is dharma yuddha?

    Model answer

    Dharma yuddha is righteous war, fought to restore dharma and protect the innocent. The war must follow strict rules of fair conduct.

  5. 5

    What rules of fair fighting are set out in Hindu texts?

    Model answer

    Warriors must not attack the unarmed, the wounded, those who surrender or those fleeing. Manusmriti 7.90 forbids poisoned or barbed weapons.

  6. 6

    How was the Kurukshetra war a last resort?

    Model answer

    Krishna went to the Kauravas as a peace envoy and asked for just five villages for the Pandavas. Duryodhana refused, so war became unavoidable.

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

1Closed book
2Open book
3Closed book

The 3-step method, run for you

Answer cold, learn it, then prove it stuck. Levo tracks the jump between your first attempt and your last.

Catholic Christianity: Catholic Beliefs
Catholic Christianity: Living the Catholic Life
Catholic Christianity: Marriage and the Family
Catholic Christianity: Matters of Life and Death

Cram a whole paper in one sitting

Sort every topic into what you know and what you do not, then drill only the weak ones.

The Act also made compulsory.
monogamypolygamydivorce

Blank Blitz makes facts automatic

Rapid timed gap-fills on the terms and numbers you need to recall without thinking.

AOmnipotent means all-powerful.
BBenevolent means all-loving and wholly good.
CEternal means existing without beginning or end.

Build It gets the exam shape right

Assemble a full-mark answer from its marking points, in the order an examiner wants them.

Miri means worldly or political authority.
TrueFalse

Test It catches misconceptions

Spot the fault in a statement. The traps are the mistakes students actually make.

721941163128510

Brain Breaks between sessions

Short focus games to reset attention, so the next set lands better than the last.

Every question in Hinduism: Peace and Conflict, on a schedule.

Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.

Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.