The Just War Myth: The Moral Illusions of WarRowman & Littlefield, 2008 - 213 pages As the war in Iraq continues and Americans debate the consequences of the war in Afghanistan, the war on terror, and the possibility of war with North Korea and Iran, war is one of the biggest issues in public debate. Andrew Fiala in The Just War Myth challenges the apparently predominant American sentiment that war can be easily justified. Even most Democrats seem to hold that opinion, despite the horrific costs of war both on the people being attacked or caught up in the chaos and on the Americans involved in carrying out the war. The Just War Myth argues that while the just war theory is a good theory, actual wars do not live up to its standards. The book provides a genealogy of the just war idea and also turns a critical eye on current events, including the idea of preemptive war, the use of torture, and the unreality of the Bush Doctrine. Fiala warns that pacifism, too, can become mythological, advocating skepticism about attempts to justify war. |
Contents
The Just War Myth and the Politics of War | 3 |
The Myths and Memes of Political Life | 15 |
Genealogy of the Just War Tradition | 29 |
Copyright | |
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absolute pacifism aggression American Exceptionalism argue argument attack basic believe bombing Bush Doctrine cause chapter Christian civilian claim combat command commitment contingent pacifism continue defend deliberation deliberative democratic peace democratic peace theory difficulty discussion double effect duel employed enemy Ethics example fact faith focus fought George Weigel goal harm human rights idea ideal innocent insurgency invasion of Iraq Iraqi John Rawls judgments jus ad bellum jus in bello justice justified killing Lesser Evil liberal means Michael Ignatieff Michael Walzer military force moral myth mythological nation neoconservative noncombatants nonviolent ordinary citizens pacifists Philosophy political preemption preemptive preemptive war President Bush principles of jus problem question Rawls reality reason reject religious reminds requires responsibility Rovie self-defense skeptical soldiers sort Sterba terrorism terrorists threat tion torture tradition United University Press violations violence war in Iraq war on terrorism warfare weapons of mass wrong York