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 25
... earthly political regime can be understood only in relative terms ; the emperor and the pirate have equally legitimate domains if they are equally just . In no case , however , should one expect to find an earthly state that possesses ...
... earthly political regime can be understood only in relative terms ; the emperor and the pirate have equally legitimate domains if they are equally just . In no case , however , should one expect to find an earthly state that possesses ...
Page 26
... earthly possessions and power as the object of their love , while the other loves things presently unobtainable , namely , those things associated with a heavenly reward in the kingdom of God . ' Observe ye two kinds of men , ' says ...
... earthly possessions and power as the object of their love , while the other loves things presently unobtainable , namely , those things associated with a heavenly reward in the kingdom of God . ' Observe ye two kinds of men , ' says ...
Page 27
... earthly city is , and as long as it remains will ever occupy , a vastly larger domain and enjoy much greater prominence than does , or will , the pilgrim City of God . The triumph of the City of God will be realized only after the earthly ...
... earthly city is , and as long as it remains will ever occupy , a vastly larger domain and enjoy much greater prominence than does , or will , the pilgrim City of God . The triumph of the City of God will be realized only after the earthly ...
Page 28
... earthly city . Indeed , these two cities are so inextricably mixed that their effective separation cannot occur before all men are brought to stand before the great Judge at the Last Judgment.86 Second , not all of God's elect have yet ...
... earthly city . Indeed , these two cities are so inextricably mixed that their effective separation cannot occur before all men are brought to stand before the great Judge at the Last Judgment.86 Second , not all of God's elect have yet ...
Page 29
... earthly city has its own order, rights and laws; organized as it is to bring about a certain state of harmony and peace, it should be respected, defended, and maintained, the more so because citizens of the City of God live in it, share ...
... earthly city has its own order, rights and laws; organized as it is to bring about a certain state of harmony and peace, it should be respected, defended, and maintained, the more so because citizens of the City of God live in it, share ...
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