Morality and War

Peter Admirand, Philosophy in Review a lucid and valuable contribution to the literature on just war. What sets it apart, moreover, is its sustained and impressive examination of how society, and especially its military personnel and government officials need moral education so that they know and understand the principles of morality in general and those relating to the conduct of war in particular.

Daniel Philpott, Politics and Religion Fresh and compelling ... Fisher's book succeeds in bringing original thinking to the morality of war.

Professor Tim Bale, Chair of the Award Committee, announcing the unanimous decision of the judges for the 2012 W.J. M. Mackenzie Book Prize for the best book of the year in political science Morality and War is beautifully written, its points reinforced by a wealth of apposite examples drawn from both history and the author's own experience. It is informed, authoritative, and persuasive. It is also important. We live, at least in the West, in an era of wars of choice. This wise book, written by a man who has had to practise the ethics of war as well as reflect on them, should be compulsory reading for all those who have to do the choosing, and the fighting.

Anthony Kenny, Times Literary Supplement A lucid account and robust defence of the just-war tradition...an admirable book

The Irish Catholic a deep pleasure to read. The concepts are clear, the language and argument accessible to the general reader... a most significant book about the deepest issues: life and death, war and peace, how we approach our common humanity

International Affairs a strikingly successful book; lucid, accessible andprovocative. It is among the best works I have read on the ethics of the use of armed force.

RUSI Journal From time to time a book appears on an important subject and becomes a 'must read'. This is one such ... it is certainly the best guide to military ethics in modern times.

Church Times Fascinating and persuasive...If you want a well-informed and up-to date assessment of just war theory, written in pellucid prose, then this is the book to buy...It brings together wisdom, clarity, and deep experience, and is both readable and challenging.

New Blackfriars a closely argued and immensely stimulating discussion of modern warfare from a moral perspective ... This is a fine book.

Sir Michael Howard Reading this book will do both philosophers and bureaucrats a world of good

Graham Gould, The Journal of Theological Studies Vol 62 Part 2 Oct 2011 Many people, including those who have no previous experience of the serious study of ethics, will benefit from reading this book, which is a model of lucidity, precision of argument, and clarity of purpose.

British Army Review an admirable book... like all good philosophers he brings every issue down to earth with luminous examples ... irresistible

Ethics and International Affairs Fisher takes the innovative ...

<br>Dr. David Fisher is a Visiting Senior Fellow at Kings College, London where he has recently completed a Ph.D. in War Studies. He has served in senior positions in the Ministry of Defence, Foreign Office and Cabinet Office, including defence adviser to the Prime Minister in the Cabinet Office and the UK Defence Counsellor to NATO, and is co-Chairman of the Council on Christian Approaches to Defence and Disarmament. He regularly contributes to books and journals on defence and ethical issues, and is the author of Morality and the Bomb and co-editor of Just War on Terror?.<br>

Introduction; PART 1: MORALITY; 1. War Without Morality; 2. Whose Justice? Which Rationality?; 3. Virtues and Consequences; 4. The Just War Tradition; 5. Is Non-combatant Immunity Absolute?; 6. Virtues; 7. Virtuous consequentialism; PART II: WAR; 8. The Protean Nature of War; 9. Extreme Times, Extreme Measures; 10. Gulf Wars; 11. Humanitarian Intervention; 12. Making War Just