Terrorism

This is the first comprehensive study of the core philosophicalquestions posed by terrorism such as: How should we define it? Isit morally distinctive? Can it be morally justified?Igor Primoratz seeks to overcome relativism and double standardsthat often plague debates about terrorism. He investigates the mainethical approaches to terrorism: in terms of its consequences,rights and justice, supreme emergency, and thecollective responsibility of citizens. The book provides arigorous, yet accessible analysis of a range of moral positions,from the acceptance of terrorism when its consequences are good onbalance to its absolute rejection. Primoratz argues that terrorismis almost absolutely wrong. It may be morally justified only whenan entire people is facing a true moral disaster, and this shouldbe understood in a highly restrictive way.Conceptual analysis and normative arguments about the practice ofterrorism are complemented with case studies of terror-bombing ofGerman cities in World War II and the role of terrorism in theIsraeli-Palestinian conflict.Terrorism: A Philosophical Investigation will beessential reading for researchers and students of philosophy andpolitics, and the general reader seeking to understand and evaluateacts and campaigns of terrorism.