Philosophy 9/11: Thinking about the War on TerrorismTimothy Shanahan Open Court Publishing, 2005 - 284 pages Terrorism poses vexing problems for which there are no easy solutions. Philosophy 9/11 explores common ideas about terrorism from different perspectives, and poses new ideas to deepen understanding of this crucial subject. The book's contributors represent diverse areas of expertise, including ethics, law, politics, feminist theory, the military, and aesthetics. Among the points raised are: the central issue of terrorism itself and how it differs from other types of violence, why the term "war on terror" is misleading, ways to fight terror without engaging in terrorist activities, the legitimacy of the "just war" theory, the notion of targeted killings and preemptive military strikes as appropriate responses, the classification of captured terrorists as enemy combatants or criminals, and whether the use of torture is ever morally justified. Of interest to scholars, policymakers, and anyone who simply wants to examine the subject in greater depth, the chapters offer a wide range of viewpoints and provide thoughtful analysis of this critical topic. |
Contents
What Is Distinctive about Terrorism and What Are | 3 |
A Taxonomy of Terrorism | 23 |
On What Is the War on Terror? | 53 |
How | 69 |
A Critical Response to the War on Terrorism | 93 |
Grounds for a Strong | 107 |
Just War Theory Legitimate Authority and the War on Terror | 129 |
Brett Kessler | 149 |
The Moral Consequences of Preemptive Strikes | 173 |
Targeted Killing | 183 |
Legitimate Combatancy POW Status and Terrorism | 205 |
Terrorism and Torture | 243 |
A Theory of Exceptions | 261 |
Contributors | 273 |
Common terms and phrases
accept According actions activities acts actually aims American analysis apply approach argue argument armed attacks become bomb cause civilian claim clear combatants committed common concept conduct consider conventional defense define definition destruction discussion distinction effect employed enemy Ethics example fact fear fighting force further given goals groups human idea important individual innocent intention interrogation involved issue justice justified killing kind legitimate authority limited lives means military moral nature necessary operations organizations particular parties persons Philosophy physical political possible practice precedent prevent principle prisoners problem Qaeda question reason recognize regard requirement respect response result rorism rules seems self-defense sense side situation soldiers status suggest targeted killing term terrorism terrorists theory thing threat tion torture traditional United University utilitarian violation violence wars weapons wrong