Philosophy

Spring Semester Colloquium "Is a Pacifist State Incoherent?"

March 18, 2009

Philosophy Spring Semester Colloquium "Is a Pacifist State Incoherent?" Professor Alan Tomhave Department of Philosophy, Occidental College Thursday, March 26, 2009 4:30 p.m. - Fowler 202 States are typically assumed to enforce dictates through the use of force. If we take pacifism to be roughly the claim that the use of violence is morally impermissible, and add the claim that all force is violence, we are left with the claim that the idea of a pacifist state is incoherent. This talk will make the case that the pacifist state is not incoherent. In making this case, we will try to clarify some minimal notion of what the state is and consider a couple of different ways to think about anarchism, as well as clarifying the rough characterization of pacifism offered here. Everyone is welcome. Refreshments will be served. Made possible by the Remsen Bird Fund Philosophy Department Occidental College
  • Phone: (323) 259-2792
  • Location: Swan Hall