TY - JOUR
T1 - The ‘irrationality’ of the arms race
AU - BAEHR, Peter
PY - 1985/10
Y1 - 1985/10
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85024935337&doi=10.1111%2fj.1468-5930.1985.tb00036.x&partnerID=40&md5=de83a68f8778e79a3c24de9a830209c4
U2 - 10.1111/j.1468-5930.1985.tb00036.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1468-5930.1985.tb00036.x
M3 - Journal Article (refereed)
VL - 2
SP - 231
EP - 241
JO - Journal of Applied Philosophy
JF - Journal of Applied Philosophy
SN - 0264-3758
IS - 2
ER -