Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- Note on the text
- Prologue to the three books On the Law of War and Peace
- Book I On the Law of War and Peace
- 1 What is war? What is law?
- 2 Whether it is ever lawful to wage war
- 3 Distinction between public and private war; explanation of sovereignty (summi imperii)
- 4 War of subjects against superiors
- 5 Who may lawfully wage war
- Book II On the Law of War and Peace
- Book III On the Law of War and Peace
- Appendix 1 Note 18 (p. 329): the text of Grotius's note
- Appendix 2 Alternative outline
- Further reading
- Index of names
- Subject index
5 - Who may lawfully wage war
from Book I - On the Law of War and Peace
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 April 2013
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- Note on the text
- Prologue to the three books On the Law of War and Peace
- Book I On the Law of War and Peace
- 1 What is war? What is law?
- 2 Whether it is ever lawful to wage war
- 3 Distinction between public and private war; explanation of sovereignty (summi imperii)
- 4 War of subjects against superiors
- 5 Who may lawfully wage war
- Book II On the Law of War and Peace
- Book III On the Law of War and Peace
- Appendix 1 Note 18 (p. 329): the text of Grotius's note
- Appendix 2 Alternative outline
- Further reading
- Index of names
- Subject index
Summary
The efficient causes of war
As in other matters, so also in acts originating in the will, there are ordinarily three kinds of efficient causes – principal agents, auxiliary agents, and instruments. In war, the principal efficient cause is generally the person whose interest is at stake – in private war, the individual; in public war, the public power, in most cases the sovereign power. Whether war can be made by one on behalf of others who do not make war on their own account, we shall see elsewhere. Meanwhile we shall hold to this principle, that by nature everyone is the defender of his own rights; that is the reason why hands were given to us.
The efficient causes of war are in part those who wage war on another's account, as auxiliary agents
But to render service to another, so far as we can, is not only permissible, it is also honourable. Those who have written on the subject of duties rightly say that nothing is more useful to a man than another man. There are, however, various ties which bind men together and summon them to mutual aid. Thus those who are related by kinship unite to assist one another. Neighbours, too, and those who belong to the same state, call on one another for help.…But in default of all other ties, the common bond of human nature is sufficiently strong. Devoid of interest to man is nothing that pertains to man.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Hugo Grotius on the Law of War and PeaceStudent Edition, pp. 77 - 78Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2012