From a State of War to Perpetual Peace

Bibliographic Data

ID2816620
AuthorsEdward Demenchonok (Institute of Philosophy, corresponding author)
Year2007
Volume66
Issue1
Pages25-47
Publication date2007-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Economics and Sociology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9246 • E-ISSN: 1536-7150
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1536-7150.2007.00496.x
OpenAlexW1982323677
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited13

This essay examines current debates in political philosophy regarding the problems of war and peace and of human rights protection. Two contrasting approaches are analyzed: one represented by "democratic peace" theories, and the other by the movement for a cosmopolitan order. At the heart of both approaches are conflicting interpretations of Kant's political philosophy, especially his project of "perpetual peace." An analysis of M. Doyle's recent conception of "liberal democratic peace" shows the flaws in his justification of the tendency of liberal states to be war-prone toward nonliberal states. Alternatively, the development of Kant's ideas in the theories of "discourse ethics" (K. O. Apel and J. Habermas) and "cosmopolitan democracy" confirms the relevance of Kant's cosmopolitan ideal to current discussions about peace and human rights. The analysis also affirms that the true solution to the problems of securing peace and protecting human rights can only be achieved by peaceful means, based on international law with the United Nations as its legitimate political representation

Democracy · Environmental ethics · Human rights · Ideal (ethics) · Law and economics · Liberal democracy · Political economy · Political philosophy · Political science · Politics · Relevance (law) · Sociology · State (computer science) · Global Peace and Security Dynamics · Law · Philosophy · Political Philosophy and Ethics · War, Ethics, and Justification

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