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 3
... true even if earlier or later authors in diverse societies also addressed similar just-war themes, and in a more systematic way. Thus, one finds just-war literature peppered with observations like these: No writer of the early Church ...
... true even if earlier or later authors in diverse societies also addressed similar just-war themes, and in a more systematic way. Thus, one finds just-war literature peppered with observations like these: No writer of the early Church ...
Page 5
... true, either by the use of more copious and skilful argu- ments, or by an appeal to authority which, in their opinion, may not without impropriety be resisted.'40 Indeed, wherever his comments on just war appear, they are 'concerned ...
... true, either by the use of more copious and skilful argu- ments, or by an appeal to authority which, in their opinion, may not without impropriety be resisted.'40 Indeed, wherever his comments on just war appear, they are 'concerned ...
Page 6
... true that his reflec- tions on war span the whole of his literary career a period of over four decades . From as early as AD 388 , the year after his baptism and the year when he began writing De libero arbitrio , until AD 429 , the ...
... true that his reflec- tions on war span the whole of his literary career a period of over four decades . From as early as AD 388 , the year after his baptism and the year when he began writing De libero arbitrio , until AD 429 , the ...
Page 17
... true, invoking their wrath upon the whole Roman population if the grievances proved to be false. The accused state was granted a waiting period of thirty (or by some accounts, thirty-three) days during which to make satisfaction to Rome ...
... true, invoking their wrath upon the whole Roman population if the grievances proved to be false. The accused state was granted a waiting period of thirty (or by some accounts, thirty-three) days during which to make satisfaction to Rome ...
Page 25
... true state or commonwealth in the first place . The fact that , until rather recently in Roman history , the Empire had not been ' Christian ' and , hence , had only recently acquired , by Augustine's assess- ment , the capacity to ...
... true state or commonwealth in the first place . The fact that , until rather recently in Roman history , the Empire had not been ' Christian ' and , hence , had only recently acquired , by Augustine's assess- ment , the capacity to ...
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