Augustinian Just War Theory and the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq

Several philosophers, religious scholars (including John Caputo), diplomats, high ranking Catholic clergy and members of the military convened in December 2004 and March 2006 to hold two symposiums on the justifiability of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in terms of St. Augustine's "just war theory," and to discuss the role the Church could and should play in guiding citizens and soldiers. Messina (philosophy, Gwynedd Mercy College) and de Paulo (philosophy and theology, Gwynedd mercy College) discuss the development of Augustine's just war theory from pre-Christian thought to its "golden age" from the 13th to the 17th century. The transcripts of those symposiums make up the second and third chapters. The participants dispute pacifism, the evidence for premptive war, grounds for moral authority and the war on terror. A fourth chapter written by Dieter Blumenweitz (international law, Ukraine Free U.) examines how the war in Iraq has changed and challenged international law. The last chapter, written by Tompkins (greek and roman classics, Temple U.) questions the place of premptive war in just war theory. The text lacks an index. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Craig J. N. de Paulo is a professor of philosophy and theology at Gwynedd Mercy College and a distinguished scholar of Augustine of Hippo and his influence on Western thought.
Patrick A. Messina is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Gwynedd Mercy College.
Daniel P. Tompkins is Associate Professor Emeritus of Greek and Roman Classics at Temple University.