An Ethical Examination of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Introduction
Nuclear weapons are destructive weapons that cause extreme damage both in the short term and over long periods of time, often more than a century. The use of weapons of this magnitude is often questioned as they cause unnecessary death and environmental damage.
The nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were catastrophic events in human history, with the death toll estimated at around 225,000 people between the bombings (Asian American Cultural Center, n.d). 225,000 lives, some ended instantly, others lost through painful and traumatic radiation poisoning due to nuclear fallout. The United States chose to bomb the two cities as an indirect attack on the Japanese; in doing so, they caused the deaths of a quarter million innocent civilians for no greater cause than to demoralize the enemy into surrendering. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were both prime examples of the ethical ignorance that plagued our country during World War II.
Scientific Mechanism …show more content…
“Most damage comes from the explosive blast. The shock wave of air radiates outward, producing sudden changes in air pressure that can crush objects, and high winds that can knock objects down” (Atomic Archive, n.d). The change in air pressure destroys large buildings/ structures, while the violents winds can destroy trees, utility poles, and people. When a nuclear bomb strikes the earth’s surface, it creates a massive crater. Some of the radioactive material is left on the edge of the crater, while the rest is launched into the atmosphere, from where it returns to the ground. This effect is known as “radioactive fallout” (Atomic Archive,
Introduction
Nuclear weapons are destructive weapons that cause extreme damage both in the short term and over long periods of time, often more than a century. The use of weapons of this magnitude is often questioned as they cause unnecessary death and environmental damage.
The nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were catastrophic events in human history, with the death toll estimated at around 225,000 people between the bombings (Asian American Cultural Center, n.d). 225,000 lives, some ended instantly, others lost through painful and traumatic radiation poisoning due to nuclear fallout. The United States chose to bomb the two cities as an indirect attack on the Japanese; in doing so, they caused the deaths of a quarter million innocent civilians for no greater cause than to demoralize the enemy into surrendering. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were both prime examples of the ethical ignorance that plagued our country during World War II.
Scientific Mechanism …show more content…
“Most damage comes from the explosive blast. The shock wave of air radiates outward, producing sudden changes in air pressure that can crush objects, and high winds that can knock objects down” (Atomic Archive, n.d). The change in air pressure destroys large buildings/ structures, while the violents winds can destroy trees, utility poles, and people. When a nuclear bomb strikes the earth’s surface, it creates a massive crater. Some of the radioactive material is left on the edge of the crater, while the rest is launched into the atmosphere, from where it returns to the ground. This effect is known as “radioactive fallout” (Atomic Archive,