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Introduction to the second edition

Just war, past and present

Abstract

Though the specific criticisms vary in focus and emphasis, all address the shortcomings of what is referred to as 'traditional' or 'classical' just war theory. At the heart of David Rodin's assessment of just war thinking is a powerful critique of the 'domestic analogy', that is, of the justificatory role of the idea of self-defence in ethical reasoning about war. In keeping with a form of analytic ethics, the main focus of revisionist just war thought is on conceptual analysis with the aim of producing a set of rules or principles which can then be applied to war. The adoption of a 'dispositional' view of ethical life, in which moral character and moral culture play a decisive part, widens and transforms the ethics of war. Past thinkers were much more economical in their deployment of rules than contemporary just war analysts.

Abstract

Though the specific criticisms vary in focus and emphasis, all address the shortcomings of what is referred to as 'traditional' or 'classical' just war theory. At the heart of David Rodin's assessment of just war thinking is a powerful critique of the 'domestic analogy', that is, of the justificatory role of the idea of self-defence in ethical reasoning about war. In keeping with a form of analytic ethics, the main focus of revisionist just war thought is on conceptual analysis with the aim of producing a set of rules or principles which can then be applied to war. The adoption of a 'dispositional' view of ethical life, in which moral character and moral culture play a decisive part, widens and transforms the ethics of war. Past thinkers were much more economical in their deployment of rules than contemporary just war analysts.

Chapters in this book

  1. Front matter i
  2. Contents v
  3. Preface to the second edition vi
  4. Acknowledgements vii
  5. Introduction to the second edition 1
  6. Introduction to the first edition 20
  7. Part I: Images of war
  8. 1 Realism 35
  9. 2 Militarism 58
  10. 3 Pacifism 95
  11. 4 The just war 115
  12. Part II: Principles and concepts of the just war
  13. 5 Legitimate authority 139
  14. 6 Just cause 162
  15. 7 Proportionality and the recourse to war 183
  16. 8 Last resort 204
  17. 9 Proportionality and the conduct of war 224
  18. 10 Noncombatant immunity 249
  19. 11 Peacemaking 287
  20. Part III: Terrorism and counterterrorism
  21. 12 On defining terrorism 311
  22. 13 Terrorism 327
  23. 14 Counterterrorism 347
  24. References 375
  25. Index 387
The ethics of war
This chapter is in the book The ethics of war
https://doi.org/10.7765/9781784996659.00005

Chapters in this book

  1. Front matter i
  2. Contents v
  3. Preface to the second edition vi
  4. Acknowledgements vii
  5. Introduction to the second edition 1
  6. Introduction to the first edition 20
  7. Part I: Images of war
  8. 1 Realism 35
  9. 2 Militarism 58
  10. 3 Pacifism 95
  11. 4 The just war 115
  12. Part II: Principles and concepts of the just war
  13. 5 Legitimate authority 139
  14. 6 Just cause 162
  15. 7 Proportionality and the recourse to war 183
  16. 8 Last resort 204
  17. 9 Proportionality and the conduct of war 224
  18. 10 Noncombatant immunity 249
  19. 11 Peacemaking 287
  20. Part III: Terrorism and counterterrorism
  21. 12 On defining terrorism 311
  22. 13 Terrorism 327
  23. 14 Counterterrorism 347
  24. References 375
  25. Index 387
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