This book investigates the moral foundations of defensive war, questioning whether the widely accepted assumption that defending one's political community is inherently just can be philosophically justified. The authors, Cécile Fabre and Seth Lazar, curate a collection of essays from leading moral and political philosophers to examine the tension between individualist philosophical frameworks and the collective nature of state defense. By analyzing both individualist and collectivist arguments, the text provides a rigorous examination of the ethical principles that underpin the legitimacy of armed conflict.

Experts in political philosophy and ethics recognize this volume as a significant contribution to the ongoing revision of just war theory. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a specialized resource for scholars and students of moral philosophy.