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 1
... fighting non-Greeks).9 At war's end, Greeks among the van- quished could not be reduced to slavery.10 These limitations thus accorded a special status to non-combatants – another theme Augustine will highlight. Xenophon, in his ...
... fighting non-Greeks).9 At war's end, Greeks among the van- quished could not be reduced to slavery.10 These limitations thus accorded a special status to non-combatants – another theme Augustine will highlight. Xenophon, in his ...
Page 4
... fighting less brutal – invariably cited the arguments of the Augustinian doctrine of just war . Those arguments were later taken up by St. Thomas [ Aquinas ] , and he did not add anything to them or take anything away . ( Bigongiari ) ...
... fighting less brutal – invariably cited the arguments of the Augustinian doctrine of just war . Those arguments were later taken up by St. Thomas [ Aquinas ] , and he did not add anything to them or take anything away . ( Bigongiari ) ...
Page 20
... fight'.4 41 44 the case well known among Ambrose scholars in which. In Ambrose one finds expression of the traditional sentiment that recog- nizes a distinction between Roman and non - Roman : ' courage , which in war preserves one's ...
... fight'.4 41 44 the case well known among Ambrose scholars in which. In Ambrose one finds expression of the traditional sentiment that recog- nizes a distinction between Roman and non - Roman : ' courage , which in war preserves one's ...
Page 23
... fight . ' 54 ( Augustine clearly maintains this prohibition in his own writings . ) Good faith As in the case of Cicero , so in the case of Ambrose , special attention is given to the responsibility of those who would fight a just war ...
... fight . ' 54 ( Augustine clearly maintains this prohibition in his own writings . ) Good faith As in the case of Cicero , so in the case of Ambrose , special attention is given to the responsibility of those who would fight a just war ...
Page 26
... fight can never claim perfect justice . These two groups of people 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 ...
... fight can never claim perfect justice . These two groups of people 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 ...
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