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 7
... requires , by defini- tion , the adoption of some perspective , some frame of reference that inevitably will accentuate certain features of the phenomenon at the expense of others . This cannot be helped . The best that one can hope for ...
... requires , by defini- tion , the adoption of some perspective , some frame of reference that inevitably will accentuate certain features of the phenomenon at the expense of others . This cannot be helped . The best that one can hope for ...
Page 9
... requires – in addition to a state's having a just cause for the prosecution of war : a position which , for good or ill , both ( or multiple ) parties to a conflict are likely to claim that the claims of an aggrieved party also must be ...
... requires – in addition to a state's having a just cause for the prosecution of war : a position which , for good or ill , both ( or multiple ) parties to a conflict are likely to claim that the claims of an aggrieved party also must be ...
Page 17
... requiring little or no argumentative justification. Peace as the ultimate objective of war Cicero advocates this principle with his claim that 'The only excuse for going to war is that we may live in peace unharmed.'17 'In my opinion ...
... requiring little or no argumentative justification. Peace as the ultimate objective of war Cicero advocates this principle with his claim that 'The only excuse for going to war is that we may live in peace unharmed.'17 'In my opinion ...
Page 21
... requiring them to make resti- tution . Referring to the synagogue as ' a home of unbelief , a house of impiety , a receptacle of folly , which God Himself has condemned ' , 44 he urges that , contrary to the position taken by the ...
... requiring them to make resti- tution . Referring to the synagogue as ' a home of unbelief , a house of impiety , a receptacle of folly , which God Himself has condemned ' , 44 he urges that , contrary to the position taken by the ...
Page 47
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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