"In Conversation" Series

 

Lecturer: 

Prof. Danny Orbach (Hebrew University)

Title: 

Knights, Samurai and Humanitarian Law: War Ethics in Europe and East Asia compared

Abstract: 

The heinous war crimes committed by the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy during the Second World War led many to conclude that the underlying nature of Japanese warrior culture was inherently cruel. Numerous individuals attributed the appalling acts of rape, murder, and looting during that period to an ostensibly ancient "Bushido," a ruthless samurai code of warfare. Conversely, some argued that "Bushido" was more akin to chivalry, positing that Japan's actions in the 1930s and 1940s were anomalous. In reality, the behaviour of the modern Japanese Army before WWII was relatively restrained, but it is crucial to note that many of the atrocities committed later had already manifested on a smaller scale in an earlier period. This observed pattern necessitates a comprehensive, long-term examination of Japanese war ethics both before and during the modern era.

In this lecture, we will broadly explore the distinct yet somewhat parallel evolution of the laws of armed conflict in Europe and the Sino-Japanese sphere. This exploration will be grounded in the fluctuating perspectives on war as either a form of competition or punishment. Questions such as when prisoners of war gained immunity from arbitrary killings will be addressed. Additionally, we will delve into the rationale behind the expectation for warriors to show compassion to women and children, examining how such "innocents" were perceived by knights, professional soldiers, and samurai in different eras. Our objective is to undertake a nuanced examination of war ethics across cultures, highlighting both common humanalities and divergences in concepts such as pity, justice, and the essence of war itself.

Location: 

Eilan Hall, Feldman Building, Second Floor, Edmond Safra Campus.

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