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
... peace as the ultimate objective of war 10. Jus in bello: proportionality 11. Jus in bello: discrimination 12. Jus in bello: good faith 74 75 76 77 78 78 79 83 83 81 82 84 List of Abbreviations NPNF : The Nicene and Post - List of Tables.
... peace as the ultimate objective of war 10. Jus in bello: proportionality 11. Jus in bello: discrimination 12. Jus in bello: good faith 74 75 76 77 78 78 79 83 83 81 82 84 List of Abbreviations NPNF : The Nicene and Post - List of Tables.
Page 9
... peace negotiations to avoid war , the avoidance of potentially unreasonable demands , etc. A right intention would ... peaceful resolution short of war have been exhausted. Such a Saint Augustine and the Just - War Tradition 9.
... peace negotiations to avoid war , the avoidance of potentially unreasonable demands , etc. A right intention would ... peaceful resolution short of war have been exhausted. Such a Saint Augustine and the Just - War Tradition 9.
Page 10
John Mark Mattox. peaceful resolution short of war have been exhausted. Such a declaration serves, among other things, as ... peace – must be the end toward which the war is fought. These nine principles, or similar expressions of them in ...
John Mark Mattox. peaceful resolution short of war have been exhausted. Such a declaration serves, among other things, as ... peace – must be the end toward which the war is fought. These nine principles, or similar expressions of them in ...
Page 11
... Peace ( Englewood Cliffs : Prentice - Hall , Inc. , 1994 ) : 30. The author is particularly indebted to Professor Christopher for his insights concerning the antiquity of the just - war tradition . See also Louis J. Swift , The Early ...
... Peace ( Englewood Cliffs : Prentice - Hall , Inc. , 1994 ) : 30. The author is particularly indebted to Professor Christopher for his insights concerning the antiquity of the just - war tradition . See also Louis J. Swift , The Early ...
Page 12
... Peace (Washington: Uni- versity Press of America, 1982): 562. See also A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, trans. and ed. Wing-Tsit Chan. (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1963): 154–5. 18 Sir John Gardner Wilkinson, The Manners ...
... Peace (Washington: Uni- versity Press of America, 1982): 562. See also A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, trans. and ed. Wing-Tsit Chan. (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1963): 154–5. 18 Sir John Gardner Wilkinson, The Manners ...
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