What Is Violence?

Abstract

This chapter explores definitions of violence, a concept with clear political as well as philosophical implications, and that occupies a central place in this volume’s investigation of women, violence and agency. Does the term ‘violence’ capture a narrow range of actions, the paradigmatic personal, physical and direct examples of violence, or does it legitimately apply to an expanded range of actions and practices, the paradigmatic cases of personal violence as well as the harmful consequences of social, political and economic practices? By defining the range of actions, states of affairs or practices that constitute violence, answers to these questions help delineate our field of interest, facilitate various perspectives and inform lines of inquiry.