Overview
When it comes to thinking about war and warriors, first there was Achilles, and then the rest followed. The choice of the term warrior is an important one for this discussion. While there has been extensive discussion on what counts as military professionalism, that is what makes a soldier, sailor or other military personnel a professional, the warrior archetype (varied for the various roles and service branches) still holds sway in the military self-conception, rooted as it is in the more existential notions of war, honor and meaning. In this volume, Kaurin uses Achilles as a touch stone for discussing the warrior, military ethics and the aspects of contemporary warfare that go by the name of 'asymmetrical war.' The title of the book cuts two ways-Achilles as a warrior archetype to help us think through the moral implications and challenges posed by asymmetrical warfare, but also as an archetype of our adversaries to help us think about asymmetric opponents.
Full Product Details
Author: Pauline M. Kaurin ,
Mr. Don Carrick ,
Professor James Connelly ,
Professor George Lucas
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint: Routledge
Edition: New edition
Weight: 0.432kg
ISBN: 9781409465362
ISBN 10: 1409465365
Pages: 154
Publication Date: 28 August 2014
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.
Reviews
'Pauline M. Kaurin, long known for her compelling and insightful views on military ethics, offers up a treasure trove of intelligent inquiry in The Warrior, Military Ethics and Contemporary Warfare: Achilles Goes Asymmetrical. Her trademark wisdom and wit is on display as she sheds light on some of the most vexing ethical issues of our day. Prescient and timely, it is a tour de force of thoughtful and careful deliberation by a mature mind. The book reflects Kaurin's many years of teaching, writing, and thinking about the moral conundrums facing modern warfighters. Her insights on the role of such virtues as courage and loyalty for today's soldiers hold profound significance in our ever changing militaries - forced as they are to adapt to new forms of warfighting and emerging technologies. Kaurin's book is a must read for anyone interested in thinking deeply about war and those who wage it.' Bradley Jay Strawser, Oxford University Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict, UK'For decades military professionals have grappled with the challenge of how to wage asymmetric war justly and effectively. This volume makes a significant contribution to that task by providing a cohesive and comprehensive look at how the changing character of war and warriors shapes moral decision-making. It is a must read for all who practise or study asymmetric warfare.'Rebecca Johnson, Marine Corps University, USA
Author Information
Pauline Kaurin holds a PhD in Philosophy from Temple University, and is a specialist in military ethics, just war theory, philosophy of law and applied ethics. She is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA and teaches courses in military ethics, warfare, business ethics and philosophy of law. Recent publications include: When Less is not More: Expanding the Combatant/Non-Combatant Distinction and With Fear and Trembling: A Qualified Defense of Non-Lethal Weapons.
