Kindle Price: $21.00

Save $5.00 (19%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

eBook features:
  • Highlight, take notes, and search in the book
  • In this edition, page numbers are just like the physical edition
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the author

Igor Primoratz
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Terrorism: A Philosophical Investigation 1st Edition, Kindle Edition

by Igor Primoratz (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.3 3.3 out of 5 stars 11 ratings
See all formats and editions
This is the first comprehensive study of the core philosophical questions posed by terrorism such as: How should we define it? Is it morally distinctive? Can it be morally justified?

Igor Primoratz seeks to overcome relativism and double standards that often plague debates about terrorism. He investigates the main ethical approaches to terrorism: in terms of its consequences, rights and justice, “supreme emergency,” and the collective responsibility of citizens. The book provides a rigorous, yet accessible analysis of a range of moral positions, from the acceptance of terrorism when its consequences are good on balance to its absolute rejection. Primoratz argues that terrorism is almost absolutely wrong. It may be morally justified only when an entire people is facing a true moral disaster, and this should be understood in a highly restrictive way.
Conceptual analysis and normative arguments about the practice of terrorism are complemented with case studies of terror-bombing of German cities in World War II and the role of terrorism in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Terrorism: A Philosophical Investigation will be essential reading for researchers and students of philosophy and politics, and the general reader seeking to understand and evaluate acts and campaigns of terrorism.
Previous page
  1. ISBN-13
    978-0745651446
  2. Edition
    1st
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Polity
  5. Publication date
    April 3, 2013
  6. Language
    English
  7. File size
    654 KB
  8. See all details
Next page
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Probably the best book on terrorism that there is."
Times Higher Education

"Very rich in content and is both clearly written and carefully thought out ... a provocative work that challenges widespread, deeply held moral, political, and historical beliefs. It is hard to imagine how a person could fail to benefit from this valuable overview."
Iyyun

"In this lucid and highly topical book Primoratz replaces the ‘moralistic rhetoric’ of the war on terrorism with a coolly and carefully reasoned evaluation of its target. Whether or not one agrees with his provocative conclusions, Primoratz’s rigorous and comprehensive arguments will need to be reckoned with."
Paul Gilbert, University of Hull

"Primoratz provides an account of terrorism which addresses the topic with the clarity and insight it deserves. Those who are morally perplexed by terrorism should read this book to find out precisely why it is morally unacceptable. Especially valuable is his discussion of state terrorism."
Steven P. Lee, Hobart and William Smith Colleges

About the Author

Igor Primoratz is professorial fellow in the Centre For Applied Philosophy & Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00C8UHR7O
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Polity; 1st edition (April 3, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 3, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 654 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 204 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.3 3.3 out of 5 stars 11 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Igor Primoratz

Igor Primoratz

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

3.3 out of 5 stars
3.3 out of 5
11 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

scesq
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Book About Terrorism.
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2013
Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
While I am not a political scientist or historian (more of a history buff who like politics) I have read other books dealing with the idea of terrorism. This is by far the most thorough and complete book I have read. There were moments this read more like a textbook than a book for the casual reader but overall I think anyone interested in such a critical topic of our time would appreciate this book.

The book takes a systematic approach to terrorism. It first looks to define terrorism and then looks at state terrorism and counter terrorism. The author looks at arguments that suggest terrorism and the response to it are not as easily distinguishable as they may seem.

The author then looks at a difficult subject in a chapter called "Complicity of the Victims." This looks at, in part, the idea that people who allow their own governments to take actions which the terrorists are fighting against. While making the case for both sides of the argument the author concludes that the victims are innocent and have no complicity.

The author then looks at the consequences of terrorism, whether there are extreme times when terrorism is justified and whether terrorism is morally distinct from other horrible acts committed in war such as bombing of cities and knowingly killing civilians.

The author then looks in detail at the terror bombing of German cities and terrorism in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These are fascinating and will appeal to the history buff as well as the political scientist. This book ends with an extensive notes, references and bibliography section.

This is not an easy read but it is a fascinating read. This took me a few days to read but it was well worth it.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Noldona
1.0 out of 5 stars Utter garbage!
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2017
Verified Purchase
First, let me start by saying i only bought and read this book as it was required for a philosophy class. I honestly would give it negative stars if I could. This book is an utter piece of trash. Primoratz repeats the same thing in 3 different ways in 3 consecutive sentences a lot throughout this book which makes it more tedious and longer than it needs to be. In fact, he wastes an entire chapter just on defining the term terrorism. About 20 pages for something that could have been sad in a paragraph. With the fluff and in text citations throughout this book, it reads like it was written by a student in an English Composition class.

Furthermore, he purposefully ignores information to justify his dismissal of other philosopher's points. As example, he quotes Held in chapter 5 and even adds emphasis on a line about it applying to the people who participated in the denial of rights, but then a couple pages later he completely ignores that but and insteads focuses on a situation where the target are people not participating in the denial of rights.

If this book is not required for a class, stay away from it. If it is required for a class, find a better class.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
M. JEFFREY MCMAHON
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Primer to Use against Apologists for Terrorism
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2013
Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
With intellectual rigor, Professor Igor Primoratz explores the various defenses of terrorism and systematically refutes them with fair-minded and tough-minded philosophical inquiry.

He repudiates the cheap and erroneous cliché, "one person's terrorist is another's freedom fighter" and other forms of moral relativism and fallacious moral comparison. His goal is to show that terrorism, which hurts and kills the innocent, is always morally wrong and repugnant no matter what type of rationalizations one wishes to use.

Early on he gives us many definitions of terrorism but argues the best for philosophical debate is this: "terrorism is best defined as the deliberate use of violence, or threat of its use, against innocent people, with the aim of intimidating some other people into a course of action they otherwise would not take."

Primoratz applies this definition to individuals and states, both who use the above tactic, especially totalitarian states.

Another big question explored in this book is are there ever moral justifications for terrorism? For example, are common citizens who vote for leaders "complicit" in their country's evil and therefore fair targets of terrorism? And does the end justify the means? In short, he shows the answer to be no and the acts morally repugnant no matter how dressed up in moral rationalizations.

If you've ever had an argument with someone who justifies terrorism by saying "but our country commits terrorism," you will have philosophical refutations for every scenario thrown at you.

Highly recommended.
Helpful
 Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report