A Philosophy of War

Sound Bite

In a snappily-written discussion, Moseley presents an interdisciplinary framework for understanding warÃ??'s nature and causation. Considering war from all anglesÃ??'Christian, Marxist, Platonic, behavioralist, economic, psychological, and biologicalÃ??'he argues that market-based societies should tend to foster cooperation more than combat.

About the Book

"War's origins are complex: they are found in the nebulous systems of thoughts generated in cultures over time. But while reason and explication can unravel those origins-and explain why man wages war-the task of abolishing war can never be completed by reason alone.The unfolding philosophy of war is much more complex than asserting that 'man is free to choose war and therefore he is free to not choose war.' We need to explore the causal relationships between his nature and his thinking, and in doing so we need to explore the realms of ideas that motivate and restrain him." The author presents a unique interdisciplinary framework for understanding war's nature and causation, examining biological and anthropological theories as well as relating traditional philosophical positions to war. This book is distinctive in producing a coherent theory of war that goes beyond the usual analyses and explanations generated in academic sub-disciplines. The range of philosophical analysis is broad and where appropriate the author applies his philosophical outline to particular conflicts such as the Vietnam War and the Thirty Years War.

Table content

CHAPTER ONE: Why a Philosophy of War? CHAPTER TWO: Defining War Defining War Contextual Understanding CHAPTER THREE: Types of War Animal Warfare Primitive Warfare Civilized or Political War Modern Warfare Nuclear Warfare Post-Modern Warfare Conclusions CHAPTER FOUR: Metaphysics and the Non-Inevitability of War War: Determinism and Materialism CHAPTER FIVE: Human Nature and War Jean-Paul SartreÃ??'s Existentialism Plato ChristianityMarxism BehaviorismConclusion CHAPTER SIX: War And Human Biology War and Instinct Self-Sacrifice Fear The Weakness of Instinctivism Aggressionism Aggressionism and Natural Selection Aggressionism and Frustration War and Inhibitions CHAPTER SEVEN: Between Biology and Culture Territorialism CompetitionCompeting Motives and Co-operation Predispositions and Motive Irrational Motives Morale: The Private and The Warrior Spirit Conclusion CHAPTER EIGHT: Culture and War Culturalism War and Culture The Persistence of Culture: Bohemia CHAPTER NINE: Unintentional War CHAPTER TEN: BETWEEN CULTURE AND REASON: Civilization and War The Nature of Civilization CHAPTER ELEVEN: Rationalism and War The Rationalist Theory of War Political Realism Descriptive Realism Prescriptive RealismThe Failure of Realism: the Vietnam War Conclusion CHAPTER TWELVE: Idealism, Metaphysical Beliefs and War Metaphysical Beliefs The Status of Ideas Metaphysical Beliefs and War Teleological theories and War Historicism EschatologyFree Will Revisited CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Epistemological Beliefs and War Epistemological and Action Epistemological Elitism Irrationalism and Faith Conclusions CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Conclusions On War And Peace Bibliography Index