Philosophy 9/11 : Thinking About the War on Terrorism

Many of the most pressing questions raised by terrorism are philosophical in nature. This book explores the crucial ethical and theoretical issues, such as: What is "terrorism" and how is it different from other types of violence? Do recent terrorist attacks constitute a fundamentally "new" type of terrorism? How can a nation conduct a "just war" against terrorists? Is torture of terrorists during interrogation ever justified? Philosophers and terrorism experts answer these pressing moral and political questions with clarity and wisdom.

Terrorism poses vexing problems for which there are no easy solutions. Philosophy 9/11 explores common ideas about terrorism from different perspectives, and poses new ideas to deepen understanding of this crucial subject. The book''s contributors represent diverse areas of expertise, including ethics, law, politics, feminist theory, the military, and aesthetics. Among the points raised are: the central issue of terrorism itself and how it differs from other types of violence, why the term "war on terror" is misleading, ways to fight terror without engaging in terrorist activities, the legitimacy of the "just war" theory, the notion of targeted killings and preemptive military strikes as appropriate responses, the classification of captured terrorists as enemy combatants or criminals, and whether the use of torture is ever morally justified. Of interest to scholars, policymakers, and anyone who simply wants to examine the subject in greater depth, the chapters offer a wide range of viewpoints and provide thoughtful analysis of this critical topic.