Title:
Understanding peace : a comprehensive introduction / Michael A. Fox.
Author:
Fox, Michael Allen.
Publication Information:
New York : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2014.
Call Number:
B105.P4 F69 2014
Abstract:
"Understanding Peace: A Comprehensive Introduction fills the need for an original, contemporary examination of peace that is challenging, informative, and empowering. This well-researched, fully documented, and highly accessible textbook moves beyond fixation on war to highlight the human capacity for nonviolent cooperation in everyday life and in conflict situations. After deconstructing numerous ideas about war and explaining its heavy costs to humans, animals, and the environment, discussion turns to evidence for the existence of peaceful societies. Further topics include the role of nonviolence in history, the nature of violence and aggression, and the theory and practice of nonviolence. The book offers two new moral arguments against war, and concludes by defining peace carefully from different angles and then describing conditions for creating a culture of peace. Understanding Peace brings a fresh philosophical perspective to discussions of peace, and also addresses down-to-earth issues about effecting constructive change in a complex world. The particular strength of Understanding Peace lies in its commitment to reflecting on and integrating material from many fields of knowledge. This approach will appeal to a diverse audience of students and scholars in peace studies, philosophy, and the social sciences, as well as to general-interest readers."--Publisher information.
Edition:
First edition.
ISBN:
9780415715690
9780415715706
Physical Description:
xix, 320 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Subject Term:
Contents:
Introduction: Thinking about peace today : The obstacle of war ; War myths ; The costs of war ; Why we need peace ; The appeal of peace ; Notes to Introduction -- pt. 1. Beyond the war mentality : 1. Historical narrative and the presupposition of violence: History as a conflict zone, Constructing, revising, and controlling history, Nonviolence in history made visible: (i) general considerations, Nonviolence in history made visible: (ii) some examples, A postscript on nonviolence in history ; Peaceful societies and human potential: A future without war?, Early humans and war, Human universals, The existence of peaceful societies, What does a real-life peaceful society look like?, Peace in everyday life, Cooperation and coevolution, Some tentative conclusions ; Two moral arguments against war: War and morality, Just war thinking, and some issues, Further critical reflections on the just war concept, "Last resort" and the case of Iran, First antiwar argument: the fundamental premise of morality, Second antiwar argument: the extended sphere of obligation, Evaluation of the arguments against war -- pt. 2. A window on peace : 4. Violence, aggression, and nonviolence: Violence and aggression, The limitations of violence, Nonviolence: narrower and broader visions, Self-affirmation and other everyday benefits of nonviolence, Strategic (or transformative) nonviolence, Critiques of nonviolence and its vindication ; The meaning(s) of peace : Approaches to peace, Peace as a state of well-being, as a goal, and as a process, The relationship between nonviolence and peace, Inner peace and outer peace, From inner peace to cosmic peace, Peace as a prescriptive concept and a vision, Compassion: (i) what it is, and is not, Compassion: (ii) action, and morality, Compassion: (iii) seeing things whole, The will to peace, Peace as a way of life ; Building a culture of peace (1): fundamentals: First thoughts, Obstacles to peace-and reasons for hope, What is a culture of peace?, Women and peace, Thinking creatively about alternatives, Everyday peaceful conduct and alternatives to violence, Engaging with conflict ; Building a culture of peace (2): the way forward : Respect for differences and human rights, Respect for other animals and the environment, Education for peace, A global outlook, Evaluating where we are and where we are heading, Conclusion.
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