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 4
... say that ' His remarks on the subject [ of just war ] are scat- tered through a great variety of his works including ... says Augustine , ' there are many things ' from which the minds of the spiritually or philosophically ill 4 Saint ...
... say that ' His remarks on the subject [ of just war ] are scat- tered through a great variety of his works including ... says Augustine , ' there are many things ' from which the minds of the spiritually or philosophically ill 4 Saint ...
Page 17
... say, Cicero recognizes – and Augustine affirms – that the fact that one state is wronged by its enemies does not justify the aggrieved state's committing unconstrained acts of violence against its enemies. Says Cicero: there are certain ...
... say, Cicero recognizes – and Augustine affirms – that the fact that one state is wronged by its enemies does not justify the aggrieved state's committing unconstrained acts of violence against its enemies. Says Cicero: there are certain ...
Page 20
... says , David ' was victorious in all wars , and even to the last years was ready to 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 ...
... says , David ' was victorious in all wars , and even to the last years was ready to 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 ...
Page 22
... Says Ambrose , ' it was seemly to spare an enemy , and to grant his life to an adversary when indeed he could have taken it , had he not spared it'.52 Discrimination In concert with the Church Fathers who preceded him , Ambrose ...
... Says Ambrose , ' it was seemly to spare an enemy , and to grant his life to an adversary when indeed he could have taken it , had he not spared it'.52 Discrimination In concert with the Church Fathers who preceded him , Ambrose ...
Page 23
... says Ambrose , ' can be gathered from the fact that there is no place , nor person , nor time , with which it has nothing to do . It must even be preserved in all dealings with enemies . " The Augustinian world - view The world of ...
... says Ambrose , ' can be gathered from the fact that there is no place , nor person , nor time , with which it has nothing to do . It must even be preserved in all dealings with enemies . " The Augustinian world - view The world of ...
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