Beyond Just War
A Virtue Ethics Approach

Authors: David K. Chan



Unlike most books on the ethics of war, this book rejects the 'just war' tradition, proposing a virtue ethics of war to take its place. Like torture, war cannot be justified. It answers the question: 'If war is a very great evil, would a leader with courage, justice, compassion, and all the other moral virtues ever choose to fight a war?'

Table of contents

Front Matter

Introduction: The State of Ethics of War

The Moral Problem of War

Just War Reconsidered

From Rights to Virtues

War as an Evil

The Philosophy of Co-existence

Theoretical Implications and Challenges

Practical Implications and Challenges

Is War Ever Justified?

Back Matter