War, part of mankind’s long history, will be the timely topic of a panel discussion today.

“Under what circumstances can war be justified?” will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Coleman Auditorium of Coleman Hall and will feature an open question and answer session.

The panel will be made up of retired philosophy professor Robert Barford, history professors Scott Levi and Dan McMillan and philosophy professors Dannie Otto and Grant Sterling.

Sterling said history professors on the panel will offer background on wars that have been fought and justified in the past.

He said Otto has some knowledge of historical philosophers’ views on war.

“I’m sure people will have plenty to say about the current Afghanistan issue,” Sterling said.

He said he originally planned the panel as a response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks before the bombing had actually started in Afghanistan.

“(War) is an issue that’s been talked about for hundreds of years, but I thought now it would be a topic that’s on everyone’s mind,” he said. “What I would like to do is try to get people to think seriously about these kind of issues.”

Barford said the panel will focus on the “just war theory.” He explained that on one end of the spectrum is a call for pacifism, the belief in no death, and on the other end is a call for all-out war with little concern for casualties.

“Kind of in the middle is the idea of a just war, so what we’re doing is that middle part-the just war theory,” Barford said.

He said the theory is now broken up into seven categories including war as a last resort when all other possibilities fail or war sanctioned by a competent authority such as the president or Congress.

Sterling gave the example of those wanting to go to war in the Middle Ages. If they could show that some specific good was going to be produced that was worth the cost of death and destruction, then it could be justified, he said.

He said anyone interested in issues like justice, morality and the current political situation would profit by attending the panel discussion.

Barford said students at Eastern could be drafted like in Vietnam because the United States is currently involved in a war.

“The students should study this matter so they know what is going on out there and that they have choices,” he said.

– Staff editor Pat Guinane contributed to this article.