Terrorism: The Philosophical Issues

by I. Primoratz (Editor)

Overview

The first comprehensive discussion of all the main philosophical issues raised by terrorism against the background of its past and recent developments. Prominent philosophers discuss definitions of terrorism, various approaches to its moral evaluation, and the contentious subject of state terrorism. Also included are four case studies, showing how the concepts and arguments philosophers deploy in discussing violence, war and terrorism apply to particular instances of both insurgent and state terrorism, ranging from World War II to September 11, 2001.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781403918178
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	08/03/2004
Edition description:	2004
Pages:	215
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.02(d)

About the Author

C.A.J. COADY Professorial Fellow in Applied Philosophy, University of Melbourne division of the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics, Australia N. FOTION Professor of Philosophy, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA S.A. GARRETT Professor, Graduate School of International Policy Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies, California, USA V. HELD Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Graduate School, City University of New York, USA T. KAPITAN Professor of Philosophy, Northern Illinois University, USA D. LACKEY Professor of Philosophy, Baruch College and the Graduate School, City University of New York, USA B.M. LEISER Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Adjunct Professor of Law at Pace University, New York, USA P. SIMPSON Professor of Philosophy and Classics, Graduate Center, City University of New York, USA U. STEINHOFF Research Associate at the CIS-Leverhulme program on 'The Changing Character of War' at Oxford University, UK R. YOUNG Reader in Philosophy, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.

Table of Contents

Introduction Acknowledgements PART I: DEFINITIONS Defining Terrorism; C.A.J.Coady What is Terrorism?; I.Primoratz PART II: JUSTIFICATIONS A Defense of the 'Red Terror'; L.Trotsky The Burdens of Terrorism: N.Fotion Political Terrorism as a Weapon of the Politically Powerless; R.Young Terrorism, Rights and Political Goals; V.Held Terrorism, Morality and Supreme Emergency; C.A.J.Coady How Can Terrorism Be Justified?; U.Steinhoff PART III: STATE TERRORISM State Terrorism and Counterterrorism; I.Primoratz The Evolution of the Modern Terrorist State; D.Lackey PART IV: CASE STUDIES Terror Bombing of German Cities in World War II; S.A.Garrett Terrorism in Northern Ireland; P.Simpson Terrorism in the Israeli-Arab Conflict; T.Kapitan The Catastrophe of September 11 and its Aftermath; B.M.Leiser Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

'We are fighting it, so we may as well understand what it is!...Anyone remotely interested in the post- 9/11 world will find something worthwhile in this thought-provoking volume.' - TheThirdWay.org

'Terrorism: The Philosophical Issues offers insight into many of the important philosophical issues surrounding terrorism. The author draws on a number of disciplines including sociology, psychology, and history to help clarify matters of terrorism that defy simle definitions and categorization.' - Jason C. Robinson, The European Legacy

'...an excellent example of applied philosophy, in which philosophical theory and empirical research are brought into mutually illuminating contact.' - Andrew Alexandra, The Jerusalem Philosophical Quarterly

From the Publisher