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Natural Law and War

Thursday 18th, 10:00am, to Friday 19th June, 5:15pm (8th Week)

Location: Pusey House & St Cross College, Oxford

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Presented in partnership with the Chase Center at Ohio State University,
the School of Civic Leadership at the University of Texas at Austin, and the Canterbury Institute.

Overview

In The Law of War and Peace (1625), Hugo Grotius revives two ancient questions: ‘What is war? What is law?’ The Dutch theologian-jurist thereby commences modern European discussions about just war and just peace, both of which were now meant to be conducted according to ‘law’.


Four hundred years later, war is still with us and peace seems just as difficult to make as it ever was. Law remains a contested domain, especially between jurisdictions and nations. It is unclear whether war is being waged or peace is being made according to any law. The questions are still with us. But we also enjoy the benefit of a welldeveloped tradition of natural law.


What can doctrines of natural law tell us about waging war and about peace-making? Are ancient sources that may have been unknown to Grotius’s age helpful in answering the questions? Do the ‘laws of nature’ that science has since uncovered help us? Can the theology, which undergirded both Grotius’s writings and the modern natural rights and human rights doctrines, help in answering these questions?


Join the Centre for Theology, Law, and Culture in Oxford for a two-day international conference, held in partnership with the Chase Center at Ohio State University, the School of Civic Leadership at the University of Texas at Austin, and the Canterbury Institute, Oxford.

Speakers


  • Dr Jan Bentz (Blackfriars Hall, Oxford).

  • The Reverend Canon and Right Honourable The Lord Biggar CBE (House of Lords & Pusey House).

  • Professor John Berkman (University of Toronto & Campion Hall, Oxford).

  • Dr Janice Chik Breidenbach (Ave Maria University & Blackfriars Hall, Oxford).

  • Dr Dominic Burbidge (Canterbury Institute & Regents Park College, Oxford).

  • The Rev'd Dr Liz Carmichael (St John's, Oxford).

  • Dr Conor Casey (University of Surrey).

  • Mr Andrew Cusack (Deputy Editor, Catholic Herald).

  • Dr Daniel De Haan (Blackfriars Hall & Campion Hall, Oxford).

  • Professor Sir Malcolm Evans (Regent's Park College, Oxford).

  • Dr Nathaniel Helms (Oriel College, Oxford).

  • Dr Jonathan Kitch (University of Texas at Austin).

  • Dr Maria Kornarou (Mansfield College, Oxford).

  • Professor Robert C. Koons (University of Texas at Austin).

  • Dr Patrick Nash (Pharos Foundation).

  • Dr Jonathan Price (Pusey House & St Cross College, Oxford).

  • The Rev'd Dr Patrick Riordan SJ (Campion Hall, Oxford).

  • Professor Tom Simpson (Wolfson College, Oxford).

  • Professor William Simpson (Ohio State University & Blackfriars Hall, Oxford).

  • Professor Joshua Stuchlik (University of St Thomas & University of Texas at Austin).

  • Ms Emma Webb (freelance writer & broadcaster).

  • Dr Jacob Williams (Green Templeton College, Oxford).


There will be evensong at 5:30pm on each day of the conference. At Thursday's evensong, The Rev'd Dr Robert Wainwright, Chaplain of Oriel College, will be the guest preacher.

Tickets

Tickets are available now: £20 or £10 for students/ordinands/unwaged.


Please book by clicking here.


If you are not able to attend in person, you can watch the live-stream of the conference from the Pusey House YouTube channel: youtube.com/@TheChapterofPuseyHouse


Please email jonathan.price@stx.ox.ac.uk or mehmet.ciftci@stx.ox.ac.uk with any questions.



Image courtesy of NATO. We are only able to host our academic programme thanks to the generosity of donors great and small. If you would like to support us, you may do so HERE.

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