REJECTING WAR:

NORBERTO BOBBIO AND THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION

Abstract

In this essay, we shall delve into the question of conscientious objection to war, as viewed through the lens of Bobbio's philosophical framework. The first section of the article is devoted to examining wars, wherein Bobbio provides a historical critique of the various reflections on the human toll exacted by these conflicts. Of particular emphasis is the escalating threat of thermonuclear warfare, capable of obliterating life as we know it. In the second section, we explore Bobbio's conceptualization of conscientious objection. Faced with the looming possibility of atomic warfare, he posits that it becomes incumbent upon all individuals to adopt the stance of conscientious objectors with regard to any form of war, including wars deemed as acts of legitimate defense. Subsequently, we shall engage in an analysis and critique of the arguments that have historically been employed to justify war. Throughout history, an array of arguments has been advanced in an attempt to legitimize the violence and its dehumanizing consequences, such as the notion of war as a necessary evil, the distinction between just and unjust wars, and the perception of war as a lesser evil and an inevitable phenomenon. The article concludes with critical considerations on Bobbio's conceptualization of conscientious objection, demonstrating that his idealistic viewpoint provides only a partial resolution to the intricate problem of war.