Two Paths Toward Peace
Published on 8. January 1992
Book
Hardback
1 pages
978-0-87722-882-0 (ISBN)
Description
What makes violence bad? Is peace merely the absence of war? Is non-violence anything more than not acting violently? When, if ever, is violence justified? Can violence stop violence? These are among the difficult issues that are grappled with in the uniquely structured Two Paths Toward Peace. In this book, an advocate of minimum justified violence, Child, and a pacifist, Scherer, engage in a dialogue about the uses and abuses of violence in the contemporary world.
Scherer begins the exchange with a thoughtful and coherent explanation of traditional pacifism and an introduction to a new conception of pacifismteleological pacifismwhich was espoused by Gandhi. Child responds by assessing the cost of uncritical pacifism, particularly in the 20th century. The authors then embark on a detailed three-part inquiry: dissecting first the concept of justified violence; then the concept of pacifism; and finally, exploring the interplay between these two concepts. Author note:
James W. Child is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Social Philosophy and Policy, Bowling Green State University.
Donald Scherer is Professor of Philosophy at Bowling Green State University and the editor of Upstream/Downstream: Issues in Environmental Ethics (Temple).
Scherer begins the exchange with a thoughtful and coherent explanation of traditional pacifism and an introduction to a new conception of pacifismteleological pacifismwhich was espoused by Gandhi. Child responds by assessing the cost of uncritical pacifism, particularly in the 20th century. The authors then embark on a detailed three-part inquiry: dissecting first the concept of justified violence; then the concept of pacifism; and finally, exploring the interplay between these two concepts. Author note:
James W. Child is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Social Philosophy and Policy, Bowling Green State University.
Donald Scherer is Professor of Philosophy at Bowling Green State University and the editor of Upstream/Downstream: Issues in Environmental Ethics (Temple).
Reviews / Votes
"I became more and more impressed with the directness with which the authors face difficult issues, and their openness and objectivity in responding to one another's arguments." --Robert L. Holmes, University of RochesterMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Philadelphia PA
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
ISBN-13
978-0-87722-882-0 (9780877228820)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
Acknowledgment Introduction The Pacifist's Vision Donald Scherer The Cost of Uncritical Pacifism James W. Child Two Paths to Peace James W. Child and Donald Scherer Part I: A Critical Examination of Justified Violence 1. A Defense of Justified Violence James W. Child 2 . A Critique of Justified Violence Donald Scherer Part II: A Critical Examination of Pacifism Introduction 3 . Problems with Traditional Forms of Pacifism James W. Child 4. Creating a New Pacifism Donald Scherer Part III: The Moral and Metaphysical Foundations of Pacifism and the Justified Violence View 5 . On Justifying Violence James W. Child 6. A Viable Pacifism Donald Scherer Part IV: The Work of Peacemaking Introduction 7. On Avoiding War James W. Child 8. Toward an Enriched Peace Donald Scherer Afterword James W. Child Notes Index