War changes lives forever in ways unthinkable and the scars of war are personal, social, and cultural. Though often attributed to Plato, it was philosopher George Santayana (1863–1952) who astutely declared: “Only the dead have seen the end of war.” Some may dispute the originality of the words, but few would deny their veracity. Throughout the history of the West secular and religious thinkers have studied the problem of war. This volume seeks to provide an overview of the thought of some leading minds that have shaped ideas on war, peace, and justice. Among the individuals studied are:
- Socrates
- Thomas Hobbes
- Plato
- Immanuel Kant
- Aristotle
- John Rawls
- Marcus Aurelius
- Michael Foucault
- Augustine
- Michael Walzer
- Thomas Aquinas
- Jean Bethke Elshtain