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 xi
... cause 2. Jus ad bellum: comparative justice 3. Jus ad bellum: right intention 4. Jus ad bellum: competent authority 5. Jus ad bellum: public declaration 6. Jus ad bellum: last resort 7. Jus ad bellum: reasonable probability of success 8 ...
... cause 2. Jus ad bellum: comparative justice 3. Jus ad bellum: right intention 4. Jus ad bellum: competent authority 5. Jus ad bellum: public declaration 6. Jus ad bellum: last resort 7. Jus ad bellum: reasonable probability of success 8 ...
Page 9
... cause The reason for resorting to war must, itself, be ajust reason. Traditionally,just causes have included the defence of the innocent against armed attack, the recovery of persons or property wrongly taken, or the punishment of evil ...
... cause The reason for resorting to war must, itself, be ajust reason. Traditionally,just causes have included the defence of the innocent against armed attack, the recovery of persons or property wrongly taken, or the punishment of evil ...
Page 10
... cause that impels military action is of such importance as to merit defence even in the face of seemingly ... cause gratuitous suffering or otherwise cause unnecessary harm fall outside the scope of what is 'proportional'. This principle ...
... cause that impels military action is of such importance as to merit defence even in the face of seemingly ... cause gratuitous suffering or otherwise cause unnecessary harm fall outside the scope of what is 'proportional'. This principle ...
Page 15
... cause In his De Re Publica, Cicero states, 'a war is never undertaken by the ideal State, except in defence of its ... causes include not only the defence of the state or its honour, but also the need to take punitive actions (for ...
... cause In his De Re Publica, Cicero states, 'a war is never undertaken by the ideal State, except in defence of its ... causes include not only the defence of the state or its honour, but also the need to take punitive actions (for ...
Page 16
... cause than revenge or defence. Cicero still allows for the propriety of wars fought for glory, albeit with some hesitancy. (In contrast, Augustine will recognize national honour in the sense of seeking for glory as a reason for why many ...
... cause than revenge or defence. Cicero still allows for the propriety of wars fought for glory, albeit with some hesitancy. (In contrast, Augustine will recognize national honour in the sense of seeking for glory as a reason for why many ...
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