This book offers a detailed utilitarian analysis of the ethical issues involved in war.

Utilitarianism and the Ethics of War addresses the two basic ethical questions posed by war: when, if ever, are we morally justified in waging war, and if recourse to arms is warranted, how are we permitted to fight the wars we wage? In addition, it deals with the challenge that realism and relativism raise for the ethical discussion of war, and with the duties of military personnel and the moral challenges they can face. In tackling these matters, the book covers a wide range of topics-from pacifism to armed humanitarian intervention, from the right of national defense to pre-emptive or preventive war, from civilian immunity to the tenets of just war theory and the moral underpinnings of the rules of war. But, what is distinctive about this book is that it provides a consistent and thorough-going utilitarian or consequentialist treatment of the fundamental normative issues that war occasions. Although it goes against the tide of recent work in the field, a utilitarian approach to the ethics of war illuminates old questions in new ways by showing how a concern for well-being and the consequences of our actions and policies shape the moral constraints to which states and other actors must adhere.

This book will be of much interest to students of the ethics of war, just war theory, moral philosophy, war and conflict studies and IR.

About the Author

William H. Shaw is Professor of Philosophy at San Jose State, USA. He is the author/editor of numerous books.

Reviews

'William H. Shaw's Utilitarianism and the Ethics of War is a terrific book that will enlighten readers interested in moral problems about warfare as well as friends and foes of utilitarian moral theory.' -- Stephen Nathanson, Emeritus Professor, Northeastern University, USA

'In this important new work, Professor Shaw reflects not simply upon what states and their leaders actually consider or how they actually reason when declaring and conducting armed conflict, he offers convincing arguments regarding what they are also obliged to consider, and how they ought to reason about war and its consequences in terms of its overall impact on the welfare of their citizens and of society at large. While such utilitarian considerations traditionally infuse "just war" reasoning unsystematically, Shaw's is the first explicitly systematic treatment by an eminent utilitarian moral philosopher of just exactly how considerations of well-being and the common good offer the most useful and advantageous analysis of war's likely impact and permissibility. This is a significant revision and clarification of just war reasoning generally that ought to be read by every serious scholar or student of political theory, international relations, or moral philosophy.' -- George Lucas, Emeritus Professor, U.S. Naval Academy

'William Shaw provides a cogent, compelling, and comprehensive account of the ethics of war, arguing persuasively that utilitarianism provides the most satisfactory basis for answering questions both about the justification of going to war, and about the ethical limits of conduct in war. This book provides a much-needed counterpoint to the deontological approaches that dominate contemporary discussion of military ethics.' -- Alastair Norcross, University of Colorado, USA

'Shaw's Utilitarianism and the Ethics of War masterfully develops utilitarian prescriptions about when wars should be fought and about what are the rules that commanders and lower-ranked military personnel should follow in wars. Especially impressive are Shaw's explanations of how utilitarianism underwrites the principles of just war theory. This is a very wise book.' -- Brad Hooker, University of Reading, UK

'Shaw's book deserves praise for several reasons. It is reader-friendly, well researched, organized, and argued. Most importantly it reminds us that although utilitarianism has been assassinated repeatedly both recently and in the past, miraculously, it is still alive and well.' -- Nick Fotion, Emory University, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

'The volume is clear, carefully argued, and thorough in its discussion of the literature on the morality of war.' Summing Up: Highly recommended.' -- Choice, J. H. Spence, Adrian College (CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title for 2017)

Book Information
ISBN 9781138998964
Author William Shaw
Format Paperback
Page Count 184
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 290g