St. Augustine and the Theory of Just WarThe decline of the Roman Empire gave rise to two problems, which combined to form one of the most perplexing philosophical questions of late antiquity. On the one hand, Rome found itself under constant military threat as various tribes from the north and east encroached along its borders to fill the power vacuum left by the receding Empire. On the other hand, adherents to the Empire's new official faith - Christianity - found themselves without clear guidance as to what military roles their faith would permit; the death of the apostles left them without revelatory guidance, and the New Testament writings were not definitive on the subject. The question, then, became: "Can a Christian answer the empire's call to military duty and still answer a clear conscience before God?" Fifth-century philosopher, St Augustine of Hippo, sought to provide a solution to the two problems. His approach formed the foundation of the 'just war' tradition, which has had enormous influence upon moral-philosophical thought on military issues in the West ever since. This major new study identifies the fundamental Augustinian premises and evaluates them in light of historical, neo-Platonic, and Christian contexts. It also identifies the effect of the Augustinian legacy upon medieval and modern philosophical reflections on the nature of warfare and on how war might be waged justly and morally. |
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Page xii
... City of God appear . Biblical quotations ( except for those embedded in quotations from other authors ) are from the Authorized ( King James ) Version of the Bible . 1 Saint Augustine and the Just-War Tradition The father of List of ...
... City of God appear . Biblical quotations ( except for those embedded in quotations from other authors ) are from the Authorized ( King James ) Version of the Bible . 1 Saint Augustine and the Just-War Tradition The father of List of ...
Page 13
... City of God XIX, trans. Henry Bettenson (London: Penguin Books, 1984). 38 Augustine, Letter 138.1, NPNF I, 481. 39 Ibid. 40 Ibid. 41 Swift 1983, 110, 111. 42 Ibid., 111. 43 On this latter point, see P. R. L. Brown, 'St. Augustine's ...
... City of God XIX, trans. Henry Bettenson (London: Penguin Books, 1984). 38 Augustine, Letter 138.1, NPNF I, 481. 39 Ibid. 40 Ibid. 41 Swift 1983, 110, 111. 42 Ibid., 111. 43 On this latter point, see P. R. L. Brown, 'St. Augustine's ...
Page 14
... City of God . Indeed , he credits Cicero for introducing him to philosophy via Cicero's now lost work , the Hortentius.2 Augustine's admiration for Cicero as a just - war thinker is evidenced by the fact that it is to Augustine that we ...
... City of God . Indeed , he credits Cicero for introducing him to philosophy via Cicero's now lost work , the Hortentius.2 Augustine's admiration for Cicero as a just - war thinker is evidenced by the fact that it is to Augustine that we ...
Page 19
... City of God , Augustine will argue that the unavoid- able consequences of war are not such as to preclude Christian participation in war on moral grounds . ) Ambrose ' saw the Roman Empire and the Christian Church as conjoint agencies ...
... City of God , Augustine will argue that the unavoid- able consequences of war are not such as to preclude Christian participation in war on moral grounds . ) Ambrose ' saw the Roman Empire and the Christian Church as conjoint agencies ...
Page 24
... God on earth . Ambrose is one figure who , although not committed to the ... city of the Christian empire fell to Alaric only thirteen years after ... City of God , his reply to the pagans who blamed the Christians for Rome's demise . The ...
... God on earth . Ambrose is one figure who , although not committed to the ... city of the Christian empire fell to Alaric only thirteen years after ... City of God , his reply to the pagans who blamed the Christians for Rome's demise . The ...
Contents
1 | |
14 | |
3 Augustines JustWar Theory | 44 |
4 NeoPlatonism and the Augustinian Just War | 92 |
5 Christianity and the Augustinian Just War | 121 |
6 Augustines Theory and Beyond | 161 |
Bibliography | 180 |
Index | 191 |
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Common terms and phrases
Ambrose Amorites Ante-Nicene Fathers army Augus Augustine argues Augustine takes Augustine's just-war theory Augustinian authority Bainton barbarians bellum principle Book of Psalms Catholic cause Christ Christian Church Cicero Cirta citizens City of God claim comparative justice considered defence doctrine Donatist earthly city enemy evil example exists fact faith Fathers Faustus the Manichaean fight Gilson God’s Hence hierarchy History human Ibid injustice James Turner Johnson Jesus jus ad bellum jus in bello justified kind Letter Lord's Sermon Manichæan means merely moral Moses nation nature Neo-Platonic Nevertheless NPNF VII NPNFI Old Testament one’s pacifist Patristic writers peace philosophical Plato Plotinus political position Princeton problem Psalms punishment reason Reply to Faustus result right intention righteous Roman Empire Rome says Augustine Scriptures soldiers sovereign specifically temporal things tine tion Translated true justice ultimate University Press violence violent action virtue wage wars fought writings York