This classic introduction to the ethics of war and peace explores in depth the legal and moral issues of when and how to use force to achieve political objectives. A detailed overview and critical, philosophical analysis — written by a professional soldier with over 25 years of commissioned service — it surveys the historical development of just war reasoning, its incorporation into the international laws concerning when and how to wage war, and the specific shortcomings with existing laws and practices concerning the conduct of modern-day hostilities. Explores the often-conflicting moral and legal obligations that officers and soldiers have when ordered to fight in wars they believe to be unjust. Contains many recent examples — e.g., Gulf War, interventions in Bosnia, Haiti, Somalia. Addresses the moral and legal issues surrounding UN peacekeeping and peacemaking missions. Examines certain problematic aspects of the international laws of war and the just war tradition — e.g., obedience to superior orders, military necessity and reprisals. Shows that although many international laws currently in force are outdated (e.g., those prohibiting the use of barbed spears and glass bullets), the just war principles on which they are based can be used to formulate new laws more suitable to modern tactics and technology (e.g., flamethrowers and nerve agents). Highlights the influence of the Christian religion (both positive and negative) on the development of both the just war tradition and existing international law. For anyone interested in the ethics of war and peace.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"This is a very good and useful book for both undergraduate and graduate courses dealing with just war and the ethics of war. It is attractive because it is brief ...but contains a high concentration of substance and encourages class discussions and further explorations in the field." — Fariborz L. Mokhtari, Norwich University
"Soldier-scholar Paul Christopher contributes a significant book, applying philosophical insight to military practice, which resonates meaningfully against the din of the usual pabulum on the subject. An ideal textbook, it's important to the citizen but indispensable to the soldier." — LTC (Ret.) Tim Challans, Associate Professor, Combat Studies Institute, USACGSC
"This text is energetically evaluative ...urging students to tackle real and serious war/peace implications of law and morality." — Louis R. Beres, Purdue University
"I especially appreciate Christopher's historical discussion of the origins [of the Just War tradition in the classical era and the linkage he makes between just war and the development of international law." — Wayne S. Osborn, Iowa State University
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
From the Publisher
A detailed overview and critical, philosophical analysis, this text surveys the historical development of just war reasoning, its incorporation into the international laws concerning when and how to wage war, and the specific shortcomings with existing laws and practices concerning the conduct of modern-day hostilities.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Ethics Lite,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Ethics of War and Peace: An Introduction to Legal and Moral Issues (2nd Edition) (Paperback)
It would be best to skip this book and instead purchase Regan's Just War. While well intended, this volume is merely an overview of the subject and a superficial one, at that.
14 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Academic potboiler,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Ethics of War and Peace: An Introduction to Legal and Moral Issues (2nd Edition) (Paperback)
This is a simple, and simplistic, attempt to review the nature of war as regarded by philosophers and ethicists. It may be that it was written so that the author might offer his students, in an ancient and ignoble practice, an intellectually slim volume as the text for a course. If you need something to lead you to primary sources, this might do. If you want an original take on this subject, or even the hint of perspicacious commentary, look elsewhere.
0 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Academic Potboiler,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Ethics of War and Peace: An Introduction to Legal and Moral Issues (3rd Edition) (Paperback)
This is a simple, and simplistic, attempt to review the nature of war as regarded by philosophers and ethicists. It may be that it was written so that the author might offer his students, in an ancient and ignoble practice, an intellectually slim volume as the text for a course. If you need something to lead you to primary sources, this might do. If you want an original take on this subject, or even the hint of perspicacious commentary, look elsewhere.
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