Full Idea
War is something that occurs not between man and man, but between States. The individuals who become involved in it are enemies only by accident. A State can have as its enemies only other States, not men at all.
Gist of Idea
Wars are between States, not people, and the individuals are enemies by accident
Source
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Social Contract (tr Cress) [1762], p.249), quoted by Jeff McMahan - Killing in War 2.5
Book Reference
McMahan,Jeff: 'Killing in War' [OUP 2009], p.79
A Reaction
This is the classic statement of the collectivist view, which goes on to assert that the morality of warfare is quite different from ordinary morality. McMahan argues against this view, very persuasively.
Related Idea
Idea 23608 If being part of a big collective relieves soldiers of moral responsibility, why not the leaders too? [McMahan]