The "Moral Equivalent" of War

Jun 19, 2008 Posted by Grace Johnson

Philosopher and theorist William James is considered the father of modern national service for his early vision of universal national service forming the “moral equivalent of war.”  In his 1906 essay on the subject, he describes how, despite the horrors and atrocities of international war, the inspired patriotism and human obligation towards the state which arise out of wartime crises are necessary to redeem the society from a dull existence built upon a “pleasure economy” of insipid consumerism.  War, by its very brutality, refines human virtues, building in humans the capacity to fight for the collective good.  His question posed is whether a moral equivalent can be found, one which still inspires individuals with a sense of civic virtue and the desire to achieve noble deeds, while escaping the suffering and destruction of war.

Read more

William James, universal volunteerism (all tags)

ServeNext In Action

Recent Tags

Blogroll

• National Service Express Tour '08
• 
• Social Citizens
• 
• Change Wire
• 
• America Forward
•