Atomic Bomb Morality Essay - 1758 Words

The development of the atomic bomb and chemical warfare forever changed the way people saw the world. It was a landmark in time for which there was no turning back. The constant balancing of the nuclear super powers kept the whole of humankind on the brink of atomic Armageddon. Fear of nuclear winter and the uncertainty of radiation created its own form of a cultural epidemic in the United States. During these tense times in human history officials made controversial decisions such as the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Dangerous biological experiments and bombs tests were carried out in the name of the greater good and national defense. Some historians and scientists argue that the decisions and acts carried out by the U.S.†¦show more content†¦According to Allan Winkler, 70,000 were killed and another 70,000 from the attack on Hiroshima alone. They contend that the Japanese would have surrendered without more bloodshed if given a fair opportunity. This assertion i s untrue; the Japanese were prepared to surrender only after incurring irrecoverable casualties while continuing to fight the Americans. Lee Reese, author of Yes: Japan Had the Bomb asserts that the land of the rising sun was still rapidly producing aircraft, tanks, and other weapons in preparation for a continued assault from American forces. According to Reese, not only were the Japanese ready to continue the war, but were also close to building an atomic weapon of their own. 1969, General Minoru Genda, one of the chief planners of the Japanese Offensive, was asked if Japan had developed the bomb whether they would have used it against the United States or not. According to Reeses article, the Generals response was an immediate yes and added that Japan was ready to fight to the, last man (Reese 41). The United States attack saved more lives by preventing the war to continue, especially if the Japanese could have escalated it to a nuclear struggle. The Japanese were also responsible for the damage incurred by the two atomic blasts. They were informed about the attack and volunteered for the actions taken against them. The early 20th century was marked by a rise in nationalism. Nationalism is definedShow MoreRelatedThe Justifications Of The Atomic Bombing Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki1616 Words   |  7 PagesThe justifications of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been continuously debated since the time of occurrence. The variety of approaches towards the topic often times lead to ambiguous conclusions that leave debaters dumbfounded. Primarily, there are two moral reasonings that analysts of the event utilize: the utilitarian approach and ethical tradition. The utilitarian approach determines the goodness or evil of an action by its consequences (Holt). 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