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Single Idea 23827

[filed under theme 25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 1. War / a. Just wars ]

Full Idea

For our contemporaries the role of Helen in the Trojan War is is played by words with capital letters. …When empty words are given capital letters, then, on the slightest pretext, men will begin shedding blood for them and piling up ruin in their name.

Gist of Idea

Modern wars are fought in the name of empty words which are given capital letters

Source

Simone Weil (The Power of Words [1934], p.241)

Book Ref

Weil,Simone: 'An Anthology' [Penguin 1986], p.241

A Reaction

This seems particularly true of the 1930s, where specific dogmatic ideologies seemed to grip and divide people. Simple aggressive nationalism seems to be the cause of current wars, now the fear of Communism has diminished.

Related Idea

Idea 23830 A group is only dangerous if it endorses an abstract entity [Weil]

The 30 ideas with the same theme [justifications for starting a war]:

7988 There is no greater good for a warrior than to fight in a just war [Anon (Bhag)]
7291 For Aquinas a war must be in a just cause, have proper authority, and aim at good [Aquinas, by Grayling]
6307 A desire to conquer, and men who do it, are always praised, or not blamed [Machiavelli]
7255 Only Utopians fail to see glory in warfare [More,T]
23569 The only just cause for a war is a wrong received [Vitoria]
23601 Leaders can only attack foreigners who have done wrong (as with their own subjects) [Vitoria]
21072 The people (who have to fight) and not the head of state should declare a war [Kant]
22802 Wars add strength to a nation, and cure internal dissension [Hegel]
20253 Modern wars arise from the study of history [Nietzsche]
14836 People will enthusiastically pursue an unwanted war, once sacrifices have been made [Nietzsche]
18320 To renounce war is to renounce the grand life [Nietzsche]
23827 Modern wars are fought in the name of empty words which are given capital letters [Weil]
21851 The State requires self-preservation, but the war-machine desires destruction [Deleuze]
23567 Even non-violent intrusive acts between states count as aggression, if they justify resistance [Walzer]
23570 The only good reason for fighting is in defence of rights [Walzer]
23571 States can rightly pre-empt real and serious threats [Walzer]
23572 Just wars are self-defence, or a rightful intercession in another's troubles [Walzer]
23581 The aim of reprisals is to enforce the rules of war [Walzer]
23582 Reprisal is defensible, as an alternative to war [Walzer]
23580 States need not endure attacks passively, and successful reprisals are legitimate [Walzer]
23588 With nuclear weapons we have a permanent supreme emergency (which is unstable) [Walzer]
23587 Nuclear bombs are not for normal war; they undermine the 'just war', with a new morality [Walzer]
7292 War must also have a good chance of success, and be waged with moderation [Grayling]
23595 The worst unjustified wars have no aim at all [McMahan]
23594 Wars can be unjust, despite a just cause, if they are unnecessary or excessive or of mixed cause [McMahan]
23598 You (e.g. a police officer) are not liable to attack just because you pose a threat [McMahan]
23597 Just war theory says all and only persons posing a threat are liable to attack [McMahan]
23619 A defensive war is unjust, if it is responding to a just war [McMahan]
23620 A person or state may be attacked if they are responsible for an unjustified threat [McMahan]
20615 Just wars: resist aggression, done on just cause, proportionate, last resort, not futile, legal [Tuckness/Wolf]