Single Idea 23592

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 1. War / e. Peace]

Full Idea

We must begin by insisting upon the rules of war and by holding soldiers rigidly to the norms they set. The restraint of war is the beginning of peace.

Gist of Idea

We can only lead war towards peace if we firmly enforce the rules of war

Source

Michael Walzer (Just and Unjust Wars [1977], Afterword)

Book Reference

Walzer,Michael: 'Just and Unjust Wars' [Penguin 1984], p.335


A Reaction

Last sentence of his book. Some cultures have a much greater tradition of ruthless cruelty than others, it seems. Most war ethics seems to concern how the good guys should respond to the bad guys (since the latter hardly care).