The Political Morality of the Late Scholastics
Civic Life, War and Conscience

Examines the practical dilemmas, both moral and political, of peace time and war time as discussed by the Late Scholastics.

Daniel Schwartz (Author)

9781108716697, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 8 April 2021

248 pages
22.9 x 15.1 x 1.4 cm, 0.37 kg

'… this clearly written and engaging book can be read with ease and pleasure by anyone … Recommended.’ H. Oberdiek, Choice

The Late Scholastics, writing in Europe in the Baroque and Early Modern periods, discussed a wide variety of moral questions relating to political life in times of both peace and war. Is it ever permissible to bribe voters? Can tax evasion be morally justified? What are the moral duties of artists? Is it acceptable to fight in a war one believes to be unjust? May we surrender innocents to the enemy if it is necessary to save the state? These questions are no less relevant for philosophers and politicians today than they were for late scholastic thinkers. By bringing into play the opinions and arguments of numerous authors, many of them little known or entirely forgotten, this book is the first to provide an in-depth treatment of the dynamic and controversial nature of late scholastic applied moral thinking which demonstrates its richness and diversity.

List of abbreviations
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I. Civic Life: 1. The ethics of electoral bribing
2. The ethics of tax evasion
3. Keeping out the foreign poor: the city as a private person
4. The political duty to keep your secrets
5. Scandal and inexcusable portraits
Part II. War: 6. Conscientious objection in war: from duty to right
7. Patriotic collaborationism: Demosthenes and Alexander
8. War and the boundaries of punitive jurisdiction
9. Justice after victory
Concluding remarks
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX], Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ], Western philosophy: Medieval & Renaissance, c 500 to c 1600 [HPCB]