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The ‘Irrationality’ of the Arms Race
Author(s) -
BAEHR PETER
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of applied philosophy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.339
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1468-5930
pISSN - 0264-3758
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-5930.1985.tb00036.x
Subject(s) - irrationality , normative , politics , sociology , arms race , race (biology) , biology and political orientation , epistemology , movement (music) , law , political science , philosophy , gender studies , rationality , aesthetics , political economy
This paper considers the four ways that the concept of ‘irrationality’ has been employed by members of the European peace movement in their evaluation of current bloc tensions. Against Bernard Williams who has recently taken issue with the peace movement's alleged tendency to dismiss political realities, the present author argues that the use of the language of irrationality reveals just the opposite orientation. Finally, it is argued that although the language of irrationality constitutes a powerful descriptive and normative instrument, as an explanation of the Cold War it is a nonstarter.