"In order for a war to be just, three things are necessary. First, the authority of the sovereign. Secondly, a just cause. Thirdly, a rightful intention"

Thomas Aquinas was a 13th century theologian and thinker who believed that war might be simply and moral if particular conditions were met. According to Aquinas, three conditions need to be satisfied in order for a war to be simply. First, the authority of the sovereign must be respected. This implies that the war needs to be declared by a legitimate authority, such as a federal government or ruler. Second of all, the reason for the war need to be simply. This means that the war must be fought for a sensible reason, such as self-defense or the protection of innocent individuals. Last but not least, the objective of the war must be rightful. This means that the war should be combated with the objective of accomplishing a simply result, such as restoring peace or securing human rights. Aquinas thought that if these 3 conditions were satisfied, then a war could be considered simply and ethical.