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 4
... gives us no system to treat : ' The just war in the work of Augustine was not a unified theory at all . Unlike ... give ear to it'.39 ' For ' , says Augustine , ' there are many things ' from which the minds of the spiritually or ...
... gives us no system to treat : ' The just war in the work of Augustine was not a unified theory at all . Unlike ... give ear to it'.39 ' For ' , says Augustine , ' there are many things ' from which the minds of the spiritually or ...
Page 18
... gives particular attention to the special moral status of soldiers. He makes clear that war in ancient Rome was quite a formal affair – that soldiers were not legally permitted to participate in war unless they had taken an oath of ...
... gives particular attention to the special moral status of soldiers. He makes clear that war in ancient Rome was quite a formal affair – that soldiers were not legally permitted to participate in war unless they had taken an oath of ...
Page 19
... gives credit to Ambrose as the person who , more than any other mortal , helped him acquire an appreciation of the interiority of the Gospel precepts – a notion that will later figure so prominently in Augustine's own just - war theory ...
... gives credit to Ambrose as the person who , more than any other mortal , helped him acquire an appreciation of the interiority of the Gospel precepts – a notion that will later figure so prominently in Augustine's own just - war theory ...
Page 20
... give freedom to the people . ' 34 Again speaking of fortitude , of central importance is Ambrose's claim that ' he who does not keep harm off a friend , if he can , is as much in fault as he who causes it'.35 Ambrose thus seeks to estab ...
... give freedom to the people . ' 34 Again speaking of fortitude , of central importance is Ambrose's claim that ' he who does not keep harm off a friend , if he can , is as much in fault as he who causes it'.35 Ambrose thus seeks to estab ...
Page 26
... give rise to two distinctly. Augustine's two cities However , the question arises , ' If all people know what is just and have the capacity to be just , and the state is composed of people , how is it that the state can never be just ...
... give rise to two distinctly. Augustine's two cities However , the question arises , ' If all people know what is just and have the capacity to be just , and the state is composed of people , how is it that the state can never be just ...
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