Waging War: A Philosophical Introduction - Hardcover

Clark, Ian

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198273258 ISBN 13: 9780198273257

Publisher: Clarendon Press, 1988

Synopsis

What is war, and how should it be waged? Are there restraints on its conduct? What can philosophers contribute to the study of warfare? It might appear to some that the practical activity of the battlefield is a universe removed from the sedate reflections of the philosopher, but in this lively and readable book Ian Clark argues that there is an important relationship between the concept of war and notions about its proper conduct, and that the practice of war requires a sound philosophical understanding of its nature.

Dr Clark begins by discussing two traditional doctrines: the just war and the limited war. The first specifies the legitimate ends and means of warfare, viewed in essentialy moral terms. The second adopts a more explicitly political view, asserting a need for the means to be proportionate to the objectives of war. Fresh insight is offered into the contrasts and comparisons between these two traditions. An exploration follows of the applicability of such ideas to issues in contemporary warfare - war crimes, choice of targets, restrictions on weapons guerrilla warfare, and the particular problems associated with nuclear strategy and deterrence.

What emerges is a fascinating synthesis of philosophy, history of warfare, political theory, and contemporary strategy, in which Dr Clark describes how the ideas which are central to the nature of war have developed in the context of changing social, political, and technological environments, and proposes a meeting ground for the integration of the philosophy and practice of war.

About this title

Review

'Though primarily an expositor of past and present thought in this book, the author has his own lines of thought, and they are interesting. ... he has written a good book.' RUSI Journal

'wide-ranging philosophical introduction to warfare ... an admirably clear and comprehensive guide to "the multiplicity of complex issues" that attend warfare.' Survival

'His book raises many interesting questions ... Dr Clark makes some telling points ... a repository of philosophical arguments about the practice of war.' The London Review of Books

'Ian Clark has the happy attribute, rare in many academics, of being able to write simply without over simplifying the issues. Altogether this book forms a sensible introduction to a difficult area' James Wilson, Army Quarterly and Defence Journal

'He assembles a wealth of material from a variety of sources to show how various war has been in the past. Not the least of his brief monograph's merits is the wider context in which it places discussion of modern limited war, and the interdependence which it shows between the conduct of war and the various concepts that have been applied to war.' Barrie Paskins, King's College, London. International Affairs

'very useful additions to the literature on nuclear deterrence' Brian Wicker, New Blackfriars

'orthodox and scholarly' Jim Marino, St Edmund Hall, Oxford International Review 1990

Synopsis

This is a study of the relationship between the concept of war and notions about its proper conduct, and of the need for a philosophical understanding of the nature of war. The author discusses two traditional doctrines: the "just" and the "limited" war. The first specifies the legitimate ends and means of warfare, viewed in moral terms. The second adopts a more political view, asserting a need for the means to be proportionate to the objectives of war. The contrasts and comparisons between these two views are examined. An exploration follows of the applicability of such ideas to issues in contemporary warfare, including war crimes, choice of targets, restrictions on weapons, guerilla warfare, and the particular problems associated with nuclear strategy and deterrence. A synthesis of philosophy, history of warfare, political theory and contemporary strategy is produced, in which the author describes how the ideas which are central to the nature of war have developed in the context of changing social, political and technological environments, and in which he proposes a meeting ground for the integration of the philosophy and practice of war.

Edition details

• Publisher: Clarendon Press
• Publication date: 1988
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198273258
• ISBN 13: 9780198273257
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 160