The War That Must Not Occur

The possibility of a nuclear war that could destroy civilization has influenced international affairs since 1945, and Jean-Pierre Dupuy's theory of apocalyptic prophecy suggests that once a major catastrophe appears to be possible, one must assume that it will in fact occur. He argues that the mere possession of nuclear weapons is a moral abomination and that whether they bring about good or evil does not depend on the present or future intentions of those who are in a position to use them.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 10 October 2023
Publisher: Stanford University Press

The potential for a nuclear war that could bring about the destruction of civilization has had a profound impact on international relations since 1945, hanging like a sword of Damocles over the heads of world leaders. The fact that we have managed to avoid a third world war involving strategic nuclear weapons, indeed, that no atomic weapon of limited power has yet been used in battle conditions, is nothing short of a miracle.

Revisiting debates on the effectiveness and ethics of nuclear deterrence, Jean-Pierre Dupuy delves into some of the most challenging questions in philosophy. He develops a counterintuitive but powerful theory of apocalyptic prophecy: once a major catastrophe appears to be possible, one must assume that it will indeed occur. Dupuy demonstrates that the contradictions and paradoxes plaguing discussions of deterrence arise from the tension between two opposing conceptions of time: one in which the future depends on decisions and strategy, and another in which every occurring event is one that could not have failed to occur.

Considering the immense destructive power of nuclear warheads and the almost unimaginable ruin they are bound to cause, Dupuy reaches a provocative conclusion: whether they bring about good or evil does not depend on the present or future intentions of those who are in a position to use them. The mere possession of nuclear weapons is a moral abomination.

Weight: 410g
Dimension: 225 x 149 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503635159