The Phenomenon of War and Its Understanding in the Historical Context

Abstract. The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of philosophical understanding of the phenomenon of war from the early Middle Ages to the present day. The study covers the key stages of the development of the theory of war, starting with the Christian doctrine of just war of Augustine of St. and Ambrose of Milan, to the secularized theories of the New Age and modern approaches. Particular attention is paid to the transformation of the understanding of war in the context of the development of philosophical thought: from metaphorical understanding as the “king of all” to conceptualization as an instrument of legal regulation of international relations. The work analyzes the transition from the theological justification of war to the legal and then to the liberal-humanistic approach, where the principle of protecting human rights becomes central, and the determining role of God in the legitimation of war is replaced by the key role of the state. The author demonstrates the continuity of philosophical ideas about war and their transformation under the influence of socio-political changes. The study reveals how modern theories of just war, while retaining elements of the Augustinian approach, integrate liberal values and principles of human rights protection, forming a new view on the admissibility and limitations of the use of military force in international relations, which leads to the logical justification of war as a form of organized violence.

Keywords: war, just war, Christianity, total war, violence, world war, state, civil war, liberalism.