Description
The discourse of Just War theory is rooted in western epistemological foundation which is ethnocentric and inclined toward Judeo-Christian ethics and moral ground. Moreover, contemporary just war theory and praxis primarily: Deontology, or consequentialism are correspondingly manifested from the same configuration privileging rational individualism and state centric ethics. This paper attempts to decolonise rigid normative foundations of Just War philosophy by questioning their epistemic heritages and exploring marginal moral principle drawn from Indian philosophy as an alternative discourse. It argues that conventional Just War thinking, grounded in Kantian duty (deontology) and utilitarian outcomes (consequentialism) perpetuates colonial hierarchies of universal moral legitimacy and global power. Furthermore, Western “Just War Theory” continues to emphasize principles of just cause, legitimate authority, and proportionality. This excludes expansionist motives only in formal terms, even as strategic interests inform interventionist practice. Non-Western traditions such as Indian philosophical systems rooted in Dharma offer a more holistic ethical approach to war. Ancient text from the Samkhya and Yoga schools emphasizes not only external justice but also the internal moral condition of the warrior, the communal impact of war, and the cosmic balance of duty. These frameworks offer ethical orientations that are neither utilitarian nor imperial. The inclusion of such perspectives does not merely supplement; it represents a fundamental challenge to the moral architecture of contemporary Just War Theory. It invites a pluralistic reconfiguration of ethical discourse that accounts for cultural specificity, epistemic justice, and historical asymmetries. By integrating perspectives from Indian philosophy of Dharma, ethics and relational moralities, just war can be reframed not as a universalized Western inheritance, but as a plural, contested, and evolving dialogue among the world’s diverse moral and philosophical traditions.
