Dr Rory Cox, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, is Professor of History at the University of St Andrews, where he has taught since 2011. He studies how ideas shape human history, with research spanning the ethics of war, violence, and environmental history. His book Origins of the Just War: Military Ethics and Culture in the Ancient Near East (Princeton) won the 2024 Society for Military History Distinguished Book Award. His forthcoming book is Solar: A History of Humanity and the Sun.In this conversation, Dr. Rory Cox discusses his book 'Origins of the Just War' and explores the evolution of just war theory from ancient civilizations to modern times. He delves into the nature of warfare in the ancient Near East, the cultural perspectives of the Egyptians, Hittites, and Israelites, and how these perspectives shaped their justifications for war. The discussion also touches on the implications of ancient practices in contemporary warfare, the role of religion, and the modern revisionist approach to just war theory.
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Rory Cox and His Work
01:54 Warfare in the Ancient Near East
08:02 Understanding Just War Theory
15:12 Cultural Perspectives on War and Divinity
27:03 Rituals and Omens in Warfare
30:37 Legacy of Ancient Warfare in Modern Contexts
31:33 The Legacy of Vengeance in Warfare
33:03 Religion's Role in Modern Warfare
36:50 Evolution of Just War Theory
44:34 Modern Revisionist Just War Theory
53:26 Christianity and Just War Theory's Influence
