DEP Hosts 4th Annual Ethics of War and Peace Conference

The Department of English and Philosophy hosted the fourth annual Conference on the Ethics of War and Peace, a joint project with Villanova University. The conference is a totally unique event which brings together cadets and undergraduates with scholars and military officers for a wide-ranging and open debate about the urgent and complex ethical issues surrounding war and warfare. This year, the conference theme was “Revisiting Walzer’s Just and Unjust Wars, 40 Years On.” Michael Walzer participated along with 10 renowned guest speakers. Seven cadets presented papers; Brett Yelverton, Sarah Morrow, Maria Kruegler, Rebecca Gray, Colin Laird, and Jessica Boerner. Over three days participants engaged in deep and searching conversations about the nature of ethics, war, and peace. The organizers aim to publish the papers presented as a monograph with a postscript by Michael Walzer further solidifying West Point’s reputation as the leading institution for free ethical inquiry into issues pertaining to war. Moreover, the conference shows the world of civilian students and scholars that the US Army is a place that welcomes civil and open ethical inquiry. As Michael Walzer proclaimed at the close of the conference, “I am proud to be a citizen of a country that has a military willing to have these important conversations.”