The Just War Tradition and Natural Law

Abstract

This Essay is divided into three parts. First, it briefly discusses Augustine on the notion of a naturalistic morality implanted in human minds and hearts. Second, it traces the ways in which such notions as human nature figure in Augustinian and post-Augustinian arguments concerning war and peace. Third, it takes the measure of our current international crises and challenges from the perspective of human dignity the naturalistic morality Augustine addresses when he insists that there is, in fact, a nature we share, trails in its wake far-reaching ethical complications