Classical Definitions of War
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Classical Definitions of War

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According to Cicero, war is defined as

  • A contention by force (correct)
  • A type of social action to compel an enemy to submit
  • An act intended to make the enemy do your will
  • A state of affairs that may exist even without fighting

    • According to Thomas Hobbes, war can exist even when

  • There is an act of force to compel an enemy
  • There is a state of affairs
  • There is a contention by force
  • There is no fighting (correct)

    • According to Carl von Clausewitz, war is the continuation of

  • Economic, social, and political means
  • Nation-states' political relations
  • Politics by other means (correct)
  • Military violence as a last resort

    • According to Sun Tzu, the ideal way to win a war is

    <p>Winning a war in as bloodless a way as possible</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Martin Shaw, war can be defined as

    <p>A type of social action to compel an enemy to submit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a problem with Cicero's definition of war?

    <p>It does not take into account non-state types of conflict</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a problem with Clausewitz's definition of war?

    <p>It defines war only from the perspective of the battlefield general</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a problem with Shaw's definition of war?

    <p>It does not take into account non-state types of conflict</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a problem with Hobbes' definition of war?

    <p>It defines war as a state of affairs that may exist even without fighting</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a problem with Sun Tzu's definition of war?

    <p>It focuses on winning a war in a bloodless way</p> Signup and view all the answers

    War is usually defined as a type of social problem because of several factors. Which of the following is NOT one of those factors?

    <p>War being more destructive due to new technologies of war</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the four broad social conditions that characterize a condition of war, according to the text?

    <p>Military activity, high tension level of public opinion, abnormal law, and intense political integration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the historian Quincy Wright, how does he define war?

    <p>A condition of intensification of military activity, psychological tension, legal power, and social integration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the anthropologist Douglas Fry define war as?

    <p>A violent activity carried on by members of one community against members of another community</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some examples of war-related activities?

    <p>Information war, hybrid war, and economic and financial pressure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the three successive levels of public hostility mentioned in the text?

    <p>Discrimination, threats of violence, and symbolic attack</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one reason why war is usually defined as a type of social problem?

    <p>Increased education, literacy, and standard of living has increased awareness of the impacts of war</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some social conditions that are present during war?

    <p>Military activity, high tension level of public opinion, abnormal law, and intense political integration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one factor that contributes to war being more destructive?

    <p>New technologies of war</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some examples of war-related activities?

    <p>Information war, hybrid war, and economic and financial pressure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Carl von Clausewitz focused on the use of ______ and argued that war necessarily involves violence.

    <p>force</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Sun Tzu argued that the ideal is to win a war in as bloodless a way as possible, using many different means including ______, social and political means.

    <p>economic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Martin Shaw defines war as 'a type of social action that can be defined as an act of ______ by an organized social power to compel an enemy to submit to its will.'

    <p>force</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Thomas Hobbes defined war as a state of affairs, which may exist even while its ______ are not continued.

    <p>operations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Cicero defined war as a 'contention by ______.'

    <p>force</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Carl von Clausewitz defined war as the continuation of politics by other ______.

    <p>means</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Cicero, war is defined as 'contention by ______.'

    <p>force</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Carl von Clausewitz, war is the continuation of ______ by other means.

    <p>politics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Sun Tzu argued that the ideal way to win a war is to win it in as ______ a way as possible.

    <p>bloodless</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Thomas Hobbes defined war as a state of affairs, which may exist even while its ______ are not continued.

    <p>operations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The examples of the World Wars, with their mega-deaths, are still part of our cultural ______.

    <p>memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    We are also conscious of our potential to end all human life with nuclear and ______ weapons.

    <p>biological</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Modern societies face constant disruption due to rapid social ______.

    <p>change</p> Signup and view all the answers

    War is more destructive due to new technologies of ______.

    <p>war</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Increased education, literacy, and standard of living has increased awareness of the impacts of war and public pressure to avoid involvement in ______.

    <p>war</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Research suggests that there are four broad social conditions that characterize a condition of ______.

    <p>war</p> Signup and view all the answers

    As war approaches, public opinion about the enemy becomes more hostile and tends to follow a progressive pattern: Successive Levels of Public ______.

    <p>Hostility</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Contact with enemy groups is suspended, resident aliens are put under surveillance or interned, protestors are arrested, business and treaties are suspended. Categories of Conflict Under ______ Law.

    <p>International</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Internal conflicts are put aside, censorship comes into effect, regulation of media sources, loyalty to the state becomes more important than loyalty to religion, ethnic group, political party, etc. Intense Political ______.

    <p>Integration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The historian Quincy Wright defines war in this way: ”A state of war, then, is a condition of intensification of military activity, psychological tension, legal power, and social ______ that enables a group to carry on armed conflict with one or more hostile groups.”

    <p>integration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Defining War

    • Cicero defines war as "contention by force".
    • Thomas Hobbes argues that war can exist even when its "acts of hostility" are not continued.
    • Carl von Clausewitz defines war as the continuation of "politics" by other means.
    • Sun Tzu believes the ideal way to win a war is to win it in as "bloodless" a way as possible.
    • Martin Shaw defines war as "an act of organized violence by an organized social power to compel an enemy to submit to its will."

    Problems with Definitions of War

    • Cicero's definition is problematic because it doesn't account for internal conflicts or situations where force isn't used.
    • Clausewitz’s definition is problematic because it suggests the continuation of politics is always the goal of war.
    • Shaw's definition is problematic because it focuses on organized violence, leaving out other forms of conflict.
    • Hobbes' definition is problematic because it suggests war is a permanent state of affairs, ignoring periods of peace.
    • Sun Tzu's definition is problematic as it is utopian and in reality, wars are rarely bloodless.

    War as a Social Problem

    • War is generally considered a social problem because it involves widespread violence, destruction, and social disruption.
    • Four Broad Social Conditions that Characterize War:
      • Intense Political Hostility
      • Suspension of Contact with the Enemy
      • The Rise of Internally Directed Hostility
      • A Shift in the Dominant Social Values

    Defining Conflict

    • Quincy Wright defines war as "a condition of intensification of military activity, psychological tension, legal power, and social organization that enables a group to carry on armed conflict with one or more hostile groups."
    • Douglas Fry defines war as "a violent conflict between organized groups, characterized by lethal force and a high level of social disruption."
    • Examples of war-related activities include:
      • Military operations
      • Political negotiations
      • Propaganda campaigns
      • Economic sanctions
      • Humanitarian aid

    Levels of Public Hostility

    • As war approaches, public opinion about the enemy becomes more hostile, developing in stages:
      • Stage 1 - Initial Hostility: Stereotypes and prejudice toward the enemy emerge.
      • Stage 2 - Increased Hostility: Increased hostility and distrust towards the enemy.
      • Stage 3 - Extreme Hostility: Hatred and dehumanization of the enemy.

    Factors Contributing to War

    • War being considered a social problem is due to it being destructive and harmful to human lives.
    • Social conditions during war:
      • Increased political hostility
      • Suspension of contact with the enemy
      • Increased internal hostility
      • Shift in social values
    • Modern warfare is more destructive due to new technologies of weapons.
    • Increased education and awareness have raised public pressure to avoid involvement in war.

    Key Thinkers and Theories

    • Carl von Clausewitz focused on the use of force and argued that war necessarily involves violence.
    • Sun Tzu argued that the ideal is to win a war in as bloodless a way as possible, using various means including deception, social and political means.
    • Martin Shaw defines war as 'a type of social action that can be defined as an act of organized violence by an organized social power to compel an enemy to submit to its will.'
    • Thomas Hobbes defined war as a state of affairs, which may exist even while its "acts of hostility" are not continued.
    • Cicero defined war as a 'contention by force.'
    • Carl von Clausewitz defined war as the continuation of politics by other means.

    Cultural Impact and Modern Warfare

    • The examples of the World Wars, with their mega-deaths, are still part of our cultural memory.
    • We are also conscious of our potential to end all human life with nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.
    • Modern societies face constant disruption due to rapid social change.
    • War is more destructive due to new technologies of weapons.
    • Increased education, literacy, and standard of living have increased awareness of the impacts of war and public pressure to avoid involvement in war.
    • Research suggests that there are four broad social conditions that characterize a condition of war.
    • As war approaches, public opinion about the enemy becomes more hostile and tends to follow a progressive pattern: Successive Levels of Public Hostility.
    • Contact with enemy groups is suspended, resident aliens are put under surveillance or interned, protestors are arrested, business and treaties are suspended. Categories of Conflict Under International Law.
    • Internal conflicts are put aside, censorship comes into effect, regulation of media sources, loyalty to the state becomes more important than loyalty to religion, ethnic group, political party, etc. Intense Political Hostility.
    • The historian Quincy Wright defines war in this way: ”A state of war, then, is a condition of intensification of military activity, psychological tension, legal power, and social organization that enables a group to carry on armed conflict with one or more hostile groups.”

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    Regular Defining War Slides.pptx

    Description

    Test your knowledge on the classical definitions of war by Cicero and Thomas Hobbes. Explore the problems with Cicero's definition and discover what elements should be included in a fuller definition. Engage with the philosophical perspectives of these ancient thinkers and deepen your understanding of the concept of war.

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