Who's to blame?

An epistemological analysis of the Nuremberg Tribunal and Karl Jaspers' book "The Question of Guilt"

Abstract

The present article discusses the creation and operation of the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg after World War II, focusing on the epistemological analysis of Nazi Germany and the trial of Nazi leaders. Using Karl Jaspers' book "The Question of Guilt" as a basis, the concepts of guilt - criminal, political, moral, and metaphysical - and their consequences are discussed. The Nuremberg trial is critically examined, questioning its impartiality, legal validity, and retroactivity of the laws applied. Furthermore, criticisms are highlighted regarding the selectivity of the trials, which focused only on Nazi leaders, overlooking collaborators from other countries allied with Nazi Germany. The article also addresses the ethical and legal challenge faced by the Allies in seeking to hold Nazi leaders accountable for crimes not explicitly prohibited by the laws in force at the time.