The Puzzle of Benevolent Aggression

Abstract

AbstractIn chapters 6 and 7, the book explores the idea of collective national defense and the ways in which it can be justified upon a liberal commitment to the value of individual autonomy. I argue across both chapters that it can be. To make this case, I first set up what I call the Puzzle of Benevolent Aggression. Chapter 6’s primary aim is to set up the puzzle and to show why benevolent aggression is so difficult for liberalism to resolve. Namely, if there was mere conditional aggression by one state against another, and it not only wouldn’t harm any individuals in the attacked state but would actually improve their individual lives, on what liberal grounds could they claim justified national defense? I explore the intuition that they can still justifiably defend their nation, and I resolve this challenge in the next chapter.