Game of Thrones and Philosophy Read Free

of virtue and integrity has a soul in harmony that stands steadfast against desires and influence.
    Yes, fear cuts deeper than swords, but so does logic. In philosophy, one has to learn not to fear where logic leads. All men must serve, and philosophers serve the truth. The authors in this volume have done just that. No tongues were ripped out, no fingers removed; the truth was fearlessly pursued. Maybe Hobbes would’ve made a great maester; maybe chivalry is a bad thing; maybe Robb’s war isn’t so just after all; maybe Arya can teach us about Zen; and you know, Ned really would have benefited from reading Machiavelli. Speaking of reading, in A Dance with Dragons , the master himself tells us that “a reader lives a thousand lives. . . . The man who never reads only one.” 1
    So get to it. Winter will be here before you know it.
    NOTE
    1 . George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons (New York: Bantam Books, 2011), p. 452.

PART ONE
    “YOU WIN OR YOU DIE”

Chapter 4
    THE WAR IN WESTEROS AND JUST WAR THEORY
    Richard H. Corrigan
    Following the death of King Robert Baratheon, Ned Stark of Winterfell is declared a traitor and imprisoned for plotting against the boy-king Joffrey. In response, Ned’s son Robb calls his bannermen to march southward with the ultimate aim of freeing his father. In the process, Robb offers support to his mother’s house, the Tullys, who are under siege from the forces of the Iron Throne—led by Jaime Lannister. At the battle of Whispering Wood, the Lannister forces are taken completely by surprise and decisively crushed.
    After the execution of Eddard Stark by Joffrey Baratheon, any chance of a peaceful resolution to the conflict appears to be lost. At the instigation of the Greatjon, and with immediate support from the Tullys and Theon Greyjoy, Robb is installed by his supporters as the King in the North, an office that has not been held since Torrhen Stark bent his knee and surrendered to Aegon the Conqueror. The war that Robb wages against the Iron Throne, and the Lannisters who control it, appears just and honorable. After all, who would not be led to such action if placed in similar circumstances? Still, we must ask the questions: What constitutes a just war? And are Robb’s actions as justified as they first appear?
    Just war theory traditionally holds that a war can be considered just only if it brings about the greatest good for the greatest number, is fought for a just reason in a noble fashion, and is waged by a legitimate authority. The question of whether Robb Stark’s taking arms and marching on those faithful to Joffrey and the Iron Throne constitutes a just war requires careful consideration.
    The Justness of Resorting to War
    The idea of “legitimate authority” is of central importance, as it defines who is in a position to determine whether a war should be fought, and who has the right to act on the basis of that judgment. Robb is extensively advised by his mother, Catelyn, on the wisdom of waging war and also by his bannermen, such as the Greatjon, Theon Greyjoy, and his blood kin the Tullys. Joffrey is advised (and one might say manipulated) by his mother, Cersei, and his grandfather Tywin. Still, it is the right and sole responsibility of Robb and Joffrey to declare war, call the troops, and actually begin armed conflict. Once the legitimate authority has waged war, it is then permissible for his soldiers to actively engage with the enemy. According to the rules of just war, however, they are still bound by a code of honor and must conduct themselves in a noble fashion. This restriction is supposed to ensure that the war does not degenerate into unnecessary savagery and evil. The possible excesses of war are illustrated by the Dothraki, who believe that in the wake of battle, rape, slaughter, and pillage are their natural rights.
    The question of who is the legitimate authority in the Seven Kingdoms following the death of Robert Baratheon is of crucial importance for