Abstract

Moral philosophy, and the ethics of war and peace more narrowly, support war crimes trials in the aftermath of war. This, alongside fleshing out fuller definitions of what count as war crimes (i.e., violations of any of the principles of jus- ad bellum, in bello, and post bellum) count as the main historical contribution of the discipline to the subject. Realism and pacifism either do not support war crimes trials, or do so only in an indirect sense, whereas the support of just war theory and international law are full-throated, logically mandated, and enthusiastic. Within this chapter, each of the above claims are explored and defended.