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 3
... course of the sixteen centuries that have passed since Augustine's day, secular Western society has reorganized itself on the basis of operating assumptions very different from those used by Augustine. Nevertheless, even if most ...
... course of the sixteen centuries that have passed since Augustine's day, secular Western society has reorganized itself on the basis of operating assumptions very different from those used by Augustine. Nevertheless, even if most ...
Page 19
... course , is due largely to the fact that , unlike Cicero , Ambrose was faced with the challenge of understanding the conditions under which war could be waged and fought in the context of Christian theology and practice . ( Augustine ...
... course , is due largely to the fact that , unlike Cicero , Ambrose was faced with the challenge of understanding the conditions under which war could be waged and fought in the context of Christian theology and practice . ( Augustine ...
Page 20
... course , difficult to reconcile in the light of the Christian doctrine which holds the universal brotherhood of Man . " 43 This problem becomes more acute as pertaining to the distinction which Ambrose is willing to allow between ...
... course , difficult to reconcile in the light of the Christian doctrine which holds the universal brotherhood of Man . " 43 This problem becomes more acute as pertaining to the distinction which Ambrose is willing to allow between ...
Page 21
... course , include war ) . As Swift observes , Ambrose ' denies to an individual in his own case a right which he must exercise in behalf of another'.49 ( Thus , Ambrose opens the door for Augustine's extensive development of this theme ...
... course , include war ) . As Swift observes , Ambrose ' denies to an individual in his own case a right which he must exercise in behalf of another'.49 ( Thus , Ambrose opens the door for Augustine's extensive development of this theme ...
Page 27
... course , be wonderful because , among other reasons , the problem of war ( and , hence , just war ) would disappear altogether . However , it is as impos- sible as it is wonderful because , just as the pirate suggests to Alexander the ...
... course , be wonderful because , among other reasons , the problem of war ( and , hence , just war ) would disappear altogether . However , it is as impos- sible as it is wonderful because , just as the pirate suggests to Alexander the ...
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