Critiques of Violence

Abstract

This article surveys critiques of violence, including religious critiques (including Ancient Greek religion, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism); philosophical critiques (including Socrates, social contract theorists, and Kant); political and cultural critiques (including modern peace movements, workers movements, civil disobedience, feminism, environmentalism and animal rights, indigenous peoples' movements, and critiques of technological development). Topics include the nature and scope of violence; conceptions of just war; the extent and limits of various critiques; how violence affects the individual and society; modes of action to reduce violence, such as religious practices, civil disobedience, and political nonviolence.