Publication

This chapter examines the distinction between preemptive and preventive military strikes, and discusses the justification of war of any kind. According to the author, the term "preemption" refers to a military strike that prevents an adversary from inflicting an attack that is imminent, while a "preventive" strike occurs when an attack is expected, but not in the immediate future. He argues that in time of war, it is justified to take a person’s life if and only if to do so is the only realistic way to protect citizens against the consequences of foreign aggression.