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
... individual citizens – a theme that Augus- tine will emphasize repeatedly.8 In the Republic, Plato represents Socrates as holding that neither Greek civilians nor their habitations should be regarded as targets of wanton destruction ...
... individual citizens – a theme that Augus- tine will emphasize repeatedly.8 In the Republic, Plato represents Socrates as holding that neither Greek civilians nor their habitations should be regarded as targets of wanton destruction ...
Page 8
... individual strands of Augustine's just-war thoughts and organize them under headings corresponding to what have come to be the traditionally accepted principles of just-war theory – principles upon which the influence of Augustinism is ...
... individual strands of Augustine's just-war thoughts and organize them under headings corresponding to what have come to be the traditionally accepted principles of just-war theory – principles upon which the influence of Augustinism is ...
Page 14
... individual is less to be lamented than the extinction of the state : ' [ T ] here is some similarity ' , Cicero asserts , ' between the overthrow , destruc- tion , and extinction of a State , and the decay and dissolution of the whole ...
... individual is less to be lamented than the extinction of the state : ' [ T ] here is some similarity ' , Cicero asserts , ' between the overthrow , destruc- tion , and extinction of a State , and the decay and dissolution of the whole ...
Page 18
... individual soldier, it must be kept, even if the promise is made 'under stress of circumstances'.22 Cicero forbids deceptions of the kind that arise when truces or other similarly recog- nized devices are used in a dishonest way for the ...
... individual soldier, it must be kept, even if the promise is made 'under stress of circumstances'.22 Cicero forbids deceptions of the kind that arise when truces or other similarly recog- nized devices are used in a dishonest way for the ...
Page 21
... 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 . ) Peace as the ultimate objective of war Ambrose holds that The ...
... 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 . ) Peace as the ultimate objective of war Ambrose holds that 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