Product Description

This is a classic treatise on the ethics of war - now with a new preface addressing the war in Iraq. This classic work examines the issues surrounding military theory, war crimes and the spoils of war from the Athenian attack on Melos to the My Lai massacre. Subsequent editions have commented on more recent conflicts including the Balkans war and the first Iraq war. "Just and Unjust Wars" examines a variety of conflicts in order to understand exactly why, according to Walzer, "the argument about war and justice is still a political and moral necessity." Walzer's classic work draws on historical illustrations and the testimony of participants - decision makers and victims alike - to examine the moral issues of warfare.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13913 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Review
"A magnificent book, an honor to its writer... a book that makes for a return of civilised discussion of the question of the morality of war." New York Review of Books "A passionate defense of the old principle of non-combatant immunity... (He) is both thorough and persuasive in his exploration of a very intricate subject." Washington Post"

About the Author
Michael Walzer is professor of social science at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University, and is the author of many widely heralded books, including Exodus and Revolution and Company of Critics.

Customer Reviews

A classic in its field
This is an erudite work examining the philosophical subtelties and ethical issues that war evokes. Any one seriously interested in war, applied ethics, political philosophy, and international relations should be familiar with the arguments Walzer uses. The historical examples are standard dilemmas and problems which are useful in class discussions in philosophy as well as history. The only critique I have of the book (which I often use for my own philosophical writing) is that Walzer's ethical examination of war ends with nuclear war--in this I think he is wrong, we should not stop our analysis even with the nightmare scenario of a holocaust, for that is to give the moral hand over to those who would use nuclear arms. The book is challenging and insightful and deserves further reprints.

Modern Classic of Just War Theory
This book revived interest to just war theory and created influential debate about moral permissibility of war. Walzer develops his own theory about just war theory. It can be summarized as: War is just when it is fought only as a) self-defence b) in order to create country for a nation under foreign rule c) counter-intervention in order to repeal effect of original foreign intervention d) humanitarian intervention to stop grave an widespread human right violations. Walzer stresses also importance of rule of non-combatant immunity. Book is easy to read, without difficult terminology and it has many illustrative historical examples. I recommend this book to all who are interested in morality of war.

Excellent analysis of moral issues raised by war
This book is superb. Among other topics, it considers the morality of initiating armed force, the moral limits on the use of force in wartime, and individual responsibiity for war crimes. The writing is very clear and the use of historical examples brings the philosophical discussion down to earth.