The Ethics of War traces how different cultures involved in present conflicts have addressed similar problems over the centuries. Distinguished authors reflect how the Graeco-Roman world, Byzantium, the Christian just war tradition, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and the Geneva Conventions have addressed recurrent ethical problems of war. Cutting-edge essays by prominent modern theorists address vital contemporary issues including asymmetric war, preventive war, human rights and humanitarian intervention.

Introduction / Richard Sorabji and David Rodin -- pt. I: Traditions. Just war from ancient origins to the conquistadors debate and its modern relevance / Richard Sorabji -- The just war of eastern Christians and the holy war of the Crusaders / Angeliki Laiou -- Conceptions of justice in war : from Grotius to modern times / Karma Nabulsi -- Arguments concerning resistance in contemporary Islam / John Kelsay -- War and reason in Maimonides and Averroes / Noah Feldman -- The ethics of war : Judaism / Norman Solomon -- Just war in the Mahābhārata / Nick Allen -- pt. II: Contemporary problems -- The ethics of asymmetric war / David Rodin -- Preventive war and the killing of the innocent / Jeff McMahan -- War, humanitarian intervention, and human rights / Richard Norman -- Culture, the enemy, and the moral restraint of war / Anthony Coates -- Application of just war criteria in the period 1959-89 / Richard Harries -- Britain's wars since 1945 / Michael Quinlan.