How ethical is it to kill your enemies? Oxford Professor Jeff McMahan presents special issue on Russia-Ukraine war

On 5 September, one of the world’s leading moral philosophers, Professor Jeff McMahan from the University of Oxford, will give a public lecture on the ethics of killing and just war theory. His lecture marks the publication of a special issue of a philosophy journal focused on the Russia-Ukraine war. The event will be held from 16:00 to 18:00 in White Hall at the University of Tartu Museum.

Traditional just war theory distinguishes between the ethics of going to war (jus ad bellum) and the ethics of conduct in war (jus in bello). This framework deems Ukraine's defence against Russia's invasion as just but controversially suggests that soldiers on both sides can be legitimate targets as long as they follow the rules of warfare.

In his public lecture, "Just War Theory and the Ethics of Killing: An Analysis of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict”, Professor McMahan will challenge this distinction, offering a revisionist perspective that questions the moral permissibility of any Russian military action in Ukraine. He will explore the ethical implications for Ukraine’s defensive strategies, particularly the need to avoid escalation to nuclear conflict. McMahan will also examine the moral responsibilities of civilians in wartime, focusing on the ethics of targeting Russian civilians during the ongoing conflict.

Presentation of a special issue of Studia Philosophica Estonica, “Reflections on the Russia-Ukraine War”:

• Opening remarks by:
  • Aaron James Wendland, Editor of “Reflections on the Russia-Ukraine War" and Vision Fellow in Public Philosophy at King's College London;
  • Margit Sutrop, Member of the Estonian Parliament, Head of the Centre for Ethics, and Professor of Practical Philosophy at the University of Tartu;
  • Maksym Kononenko, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Estonia.
• Public lecture by Prof. McMahan, followed by a Q&A session.

About the lecturer
Jeff McMahan is the Sekyra and White’s Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Oxford. He is the author of influential works such as The Ethics of Killing and Killing in War. His groundbreaking research spans euthanasia, abortion, infanticide, self-defence, and just war theory. McMahan has also contributed to major publications, including The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Washington Post, and has received numerous awards, including a Rhodes Scholarship, MacArthur Grant, and Guggenheim Fellowship. Currently, he is working on several books for Oxford University Press and editing a series on the legacy of his mentor, Derek Parfit.

Read more about the special issue of Studia Philosophica Estonica, “Reflections on the Russia-Ukraine War”.