On War: A Dialogue

(Paperback)

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One in the series New Dialogues in Philosophy, Brian Orend has written an engaging dialogue from the perspectives of a critically injured soldier and his spouse on all questions related to the ethics of going to war and the ethics of fighting in war. Readers learn of the major traditions of thinking about war, including realism, pacifism, just war theory, and international law. Orend draws on a variety of references from the Civil War to the current war in Iraq to illustrate the moral dimension and ambiguity of war.

Reviews

Brian Orend brings to life the ancient ideas of just war, duty, the struggle for power, and pacifism. His sympathetic characters give voice to these ideas, connecting them to the emotions and experiences of modern war. Moral claims compete for political influence and personal allegiance. The reader is left to question whether military conflict is inevitable, fated, or unavoidably random. Rather, we see that conflict is often chosen - with consequences predictably tragic. -- Joel H. Rosenthal, president, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs
A promising new series that offers noteable contemporary philosophers the opportunity to write books in a neglected format that has proven historically to be remarkably fruitful. -- Steven M. Cahn
Orend (Univ. of Waterloo) succeeds in surveying a full array of crucial issues and arguments in ethics of warfarethe nature and causes of war, just war, pacifism, and international law against the backdrop of the second Iraw War and its myriad controversies... the book's unique dialogue format, clear exposition, and contemporary relevance may make On War more accesible and engaging to a general audience or lower-level undergraduates. Recommended. * Choice Reviews *
On War: A Dialogue , presents a provocative meander through the complex moral and ethical issues of war. He does this in a way that is scholarly, yet avoids the fog and haze of other heavier philosophical works....Orend nicely balances the often competing goals of imparting knowledge while allowing readers to think for themselves. This book is a wonderful starting point for anyone wanting to examine the major moral and ethical question of war. -- Christopher G. Marshall * International Journal Of Intelligence Ethics *
In recent years, scholars have recognized that the ethics of war are an on-going dialogue about how to behave in the most extreme of circumstances. Now we can see the dialogue in practice. Using an innovative approach, not before seen in this field, Brian Orend brings fresh perspective on some of the most difficult moral dilemmas relating to war. From decisions about when to fight to the actual nitty-gritty of fighting itself, this book shows that there are multiple ways of addressing the morality of war and no easy answers. It brings fresh light to the problem of war and will launch a thousand conversations. -- Alex J. Bellamy, University of Queensland

Author Bio

Brian Orend is professor of philosophy and director of international studies at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Orend is the author of four books including two widely-used textbooks on the topics of war and human rights. An active public speaker, Orend addresses audiences and the media around the world on questions of war and peace and human rights.