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Robert Jones

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In Defence of War

by Nigel Biggar

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Robert Jones said: " Biggar's book is probably the most important work on theories of war in decades, certainly within Christian circles. The worthy dialectician of Yoder, Hauerwas, and Hays, I take Biggar's work to be the seminal Christian work on war going back to Yode Biggar's book is probably the most important work on theories of war in decades, certainly within Christian circles. The worthy dialectician of Yoder, Hauerwas, and Hays, I take Biggar's work to be the seminal Christian work on war going back to Yoder's work (which, I believe, should not be mentioned without mentioning from Yoder's legacy of sexual abuse). I think it is the most important work on war, period, since Machael Walzer's magnum opus, 'Just and Unjust Wars'.

Biggar's grasp of the subject matter and literature base is astounding, and the nuance he provides helps him to outmaneuver many pacifists as his argument in 'In Defence' does the nitty-gritty detail-work necessary to make an argument about war in all of its complexities.

He opens by arguing against pacifists, going in-depth against Yoder, Hauerwas, and Hays, but also answering many secular pacifists as well. I find his argument here to be extremely persuasive. Biggar's argument then moves on to an analysis of the psychology of war to examine if love, or virtue, can be present in soldiers and commanders--Biggar says they can. His argument here seems to be less persuasive, mostly because it comes across as a defensive argument against pacifists, whereas I think Biggar may benefit from a more positive re-casting. However, this may merely speak to the nature of war, that its essence is a tragic, not heroic, narrative.

Biggar then provides an analysis of the doctrine of double-effect, and a few other of the major issues in the debate, before providing a point-by-point defense of the '03 invasion of Iraq as a just war...in the UK...pretty ballsy. Biggar's goes point-by-point, and makes a persuasive case. I have still not decided whether I buy it or not.

Biggar's book should be read widely, not only because of its importance, but also because of its depth and beautiful prose. As far as academic works go, this is a masterpiece of writing skill.

It is one of my favorite books, and I will read it again and again in the years to come. ...more "

Aug 15, 2016 08:00PM · see review