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. |
From inside the book
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Page 2
... unjust') and 'war' in tandem (that distinction may well belong to Aristotle“). Moreover, the idea of ajust war is not an exclusively Western innovation. The ancient Chinese, the Egyptians, the Babylonians, the Hindu of India, and others ...
... unjust') and 'war' in tandem (that distinction may well belong to Aristotle“). Moreover, the idea of ajust war is not an exclusively Western innovation. The ancient Chinese, the Egyptians, the Babylonians, the Hindu of India, and others ...
Page 8
... unjust means in order to win even ajust war'.63 The traditional list of jus ad bellum and jus in bello principles typically varies in minor degree from author to author. This is not so much due to a basic disagreement as to what the ...
... unjust means in order to win even ajust war'.63 The traditional list of jus ad bellum and jus in bello principles typically varies in minor degree from author to author. This is not so much due to a basic disagreement as to what the ...
Page 15
... unjust which are undertaken without provocation."' At very least, wars fought 'in defence of . . . honour' would seem to include wars fought to aid or defend those peoples allied with Rome. As Cicero explains, 'There are two kinds of ...
... unjust which are undertaken without provocation."' At very least, wars fought 'in defence of . . . honour' would seem to include wars fought to aid or defend those peoples allied with Rome. As Cicero explains, 'There are two kinds of ...
Page 16
... unjust. Wars fought for glory must be carried on with less bitterness than are wars fought for revenge or for defence from invasion precisely because glory is less just a cause than revenge or defence. Cicero still allows for the ...
... unjust. Wars fought for glory must be carried on with less bitterness than are wars fought for revenge or for defence from invasion precisely because glory is less just a cause than revenge or defence. Cicero still allows for the ...
Page 20
... unjust'.?"' Ambrose: jus. ad. bellum. Just cause Turning to King David as a paradigm, Ambrose notes that 'David never waged '39 and that after his encounter with Goliath, 'he war unless he was driven to it never entered on a war without ...
... unjust'.?"' Ambrose: jus. ad. bellum. Just cause Turning to King David as a paradigm, Ambrose notes that 'David never waged '39 and that after his encounter with Goliath, 'he war unless he was driven to it never entered on a war without ...
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
According action ajust Ambrose appears application argues Augustine Augustine’s Augustinian authority becomes bellum called cause Christian Church Cicero citizens City City of God claim command concerning considered course defence desire directed divine doctrine earthly Empire enemy engage evidence evil example exists fact faith Faustus fight find first follow fought given gives God’s Hence hierarchy History holds human Ibid idea important individual issues just-war justice kind least Letter live matter means merely military moral nature Neo-Platonic never Nevertheless notes NPNF NPNFI object observes ofjust peace person philosophical political position possible present Press principle problem punishment question reason reference regarded Reply requires response result righteous Roman Rome says seek seems sense Sermon serve soldiers sovereign specifically Testament theory things thought tradition Translated true ultimate University unjust violence virtue wage wars writings