From Just War to Modern Peace Ethics (Arbeiten zur Kirchengeschichte, 120) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3110291770 ISBN 13: 9783110291773

Publisher: De Gruyter, 2012

Synopsis

This book rewrites the history of Christian peace ethics. Christian reflection on reducing violence or overcoming war has roots in ancient Roman philosophy and eventually grew to influence modern international law. This historical overview begins with Cicero, the source of Christian authors like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. It is highly debatable whether Augustine had a systematic interest in just war or whether his writings were used to develop a systematic just war teaching only by the later tradition. May Christians justifiably use force to overcome disorder and achieve peace? The book traces the classical debate from Thomas Aquinas to early modern-age thinkers like Vitoria, Suarez, Martin Luther, Hugo Grotius and Immanuel Kant. It highlights the diversity of the approaches of theologians, philosophers and lawyers. Modern cosmopolitianism and international law-thinking, it shows, are rooted in the Spanish Scholastics, where Grotius and Kant each found the inspiration to inaugurate a modern peace ethic. In the 20th century the tradition has taken aim not only at reducing violence and overcoming war but at developing a constructive ethic of peace building, as is reflected in Pope John Paul II’s teaching.

About this title

About the Author

Heinz-Gerhard Justenhoven, Institute for Theology and Peace, Hamburg, Germany; William A. Barbieri, Jr., The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, USA.

Edition details

• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3110291770
• ISBN 13: 9783110291773
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 359
• Editor: Justenhoven Heinz-Gerhard, Barbieri Jr. William A.