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 8
... violent action against another. In contrast, jus in bello, or 'justice in war', specifies the limits of morally acceptable conduct in the actual prosecution of a war – in support of the claim that 'it is not permitted to employ unjust ...
... violent action against another. In contrast, jus in bello, or 'justice in war', specifies the limits of morally acceptable conduct in the actual prosecution of a war – in support of the claim that 'it is not permitted to employ unjust ...
Page 10
... violence, and, to the greatest extent possible, the establishment or restoration of happiness and human flourishing ... Violent means which cause gratuitous suf- fering or otherwise cause unnecessary harm fall outside the scope of what ...
... violence, and, to the greatest extent possible, the establishment or restoration of happiness and human flourishing ... Violent means which cause gratuitous suf- fering or otherwise cause unnecessary harm fall outside the scope of what ...
Page 11
... violent action . Traditionally , non - combatants have included wounded soldiers , prisoners of war , clergymen , women not in the military , children , the aged , and the infirm , all of whom are presumed not to be engaged in the war ...
... violent action . Traditionally , non - combatants have included wounded soldiers , prisoners of war , clergymen , women not in the military , children , the aged , and the infirm , all of whom are presumed not to be engaged in the war ...
Page 15
... violence from without . The state thus is faced with the question of whether it can justly engage in hostile action against its enemies . Cicero argues that it is permissible , but only if the peaceful alternative of ' discussion ' is ...
... violence from without . The state thus is faced with the question of whether it can justly engage in hostile action against its enemies . Cicero argues that it is permissible , but only if the peaceful alternative of ' discussion ' is ...
Page 17
... violence against its enemies. Says Cicero: there are certain duties that we owe even to those who have wronged us. For there is a limit to retribution and to punishment; or rather, I am inclined to think, it is sufficient that the ...
... violence against its enemies. Says Cicero: there are certain duties that we owe even to those who have wronged us. For there is a limit to retribution and to punishment; or rather, I am inclined to think, it is sufficient 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