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 ix
... thought and Augustine's interpre- tation of Christianity, with which he found the Platonic tradition to be in some sense compatible. This juxtaposition is evident throughout the entire complex of doctrines which are not inappropriately ...
... thought and Augustine's interpre- tation of Christianity, with which he found the Platonic tradition to be in some sense compatible. This juxtaposition is evident throughout the entire complex of doctrines which are not inappropriately ...
Page x
... thought in isolation subjects the inquirer to two formidable difficulties. First, it is impossible to decontextualize Augustine. Everything in his system is just that: a part of his system and can only be comprehended when understood as ...
... thought in isolation subjects the inquirer to two formidable difficulties. First, it is impossible to decontextualize Augustine. Everything in his system is just that: a part of his system and can only be comprehended when understood as ...
Page 3
... thought, indeed upon the entire intellectual development of the West, as Saint Augustine. Not the least of his accomplishments was the synthesizing of Ciceronian and Christian ideas about war. To this day, his synthesis is at the base ...
... thought, indeed upon the entire intellectual development of the West, as Saint Augustine. Not the least of his accomplishments was the synthesizing of Ciceronian and Christian ideas about war. To this day, his synthesis is at the base ...
Page 4
... thought that was to influence opinion throughout the Middle Ages and beyond . ( Russell ) 30 Indeed , the just - war ruminations of Augustine constitute the fons et orgio for the thoughts of a long line of just - war theorists that ...
... thought that was to influence opinion throughout the Middle Ages and beyond . ( Russell ) 30 Indeed , the just - war ruminations of Augustine constitute the fons et orgio for the thoughts of a long line of just - war theorists that ...
Page 5
... thought. Augustine also addresses a number of themes allied to the topic of just war (such as the use of violence by the state in the punishing of criminals or in coercing religious practice),43 which, if carefully considered in tandem ...
... thought. Augustine also addresses a number of themes allied to the topic of just war (such as the use of violence by the state in the punishing of criminals or in coercing religious practice),43 which, if carefully considered in tandem ...
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