Moral wrongdoers: evaluating the value of moral actions performed by war criminals

Jean-François Caron

2017

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DOI 10.1080/23337486.2017.1379120
Data confidence 70 medium
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Abstract

This text explores the value of moral acts performed by war criminals, and the extent to which they should alleviate the punishment these individuals ought to receive for violating the rules of war. Without neglecting the necessity of retribution in war crimes cases, it argues from an ethical perspective that we should not rule out the possibility of considering lesser punishments for war criminals who decide to perform a moral act, as it might produce significant positive moral outcomes. This text also analyses how such a norm could be justified from a moral perspective.