Origins of the Just War

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Exploring the ethics of war in the ancient Near East, the book delves into Egyptian, Hittite, and Israelite cultures to reveal the complex origins of just war thought. Rory Cox argues that rather than condemning warfare, early ethical ideas sought to justify it, coining the term ius pro bello, or "right for war." This work highlights how historical perspectives on war continue to influence modern just war theories, emphasizing the need for caution against moral absolutism in the ethics of conflict.