https://doi.org/10.1177/1755088218786306 Journal of International Political Theory 1–18 © The Author(s) 2018 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1755088218786306 journals.sagepub.com/home/ipt The historical approach and the ‘war of ethics within the ethics of war’ Christian Nikolaus Braun University of Durham, UK Abstract Contemporary just war thinking has mostly been split into two competing camps, namely, Michael Walzer’s approach and its revisionist critics. While Walzerians employ a casuistical method, most revisionists resort to analytical philosophy’s reflective equilibrium. Importantly, besides employing different methods, the two sides also disagree on substantive issues. This article focuses on one such issue, the moral equality of combatants, arguing that while a methodological reconciliation between the two camps is impossible, contemporary debate would benefit from a ‘third-way’ approach. Presenting James Turner Johnson’s historical method as such an approach, the article suggests that while revisionists are correct in considering the symmetry thesis as ethically indefensible, in order to arrive at this judgement, it is not necessary to employ far-fetched thought experiments and the use of historical cases is preferable. The root cause of Walzer’s problematic reasoning vis-à-vis the symmetry thesis, the historical approach reveals, is his uneasy relationship with the just war tradition. Contributing to a deeper understanding of the respective approaches’ differences, the article seeks to move the focus of contemporary just war away from a narrow intra-disciplinary divide and towards an engagement with substantive questions. Keywords Historical just war, James Turner Johnson, just war method, moral equality of combatants, revisionist just war, Walzerian just war Introduction Contemporary just war debate has mostly been split into two competing camps, namely, Michael Walzer’s approach and its revisionist critics in which both sides disagree on both Corresponding author: Christian Nikolaus Braun, School of Government and International Affairs, University of Durham, Al-Qasimi Building, Elvet Hill Road, Durham DH1 3TU, UK. Email: christian.n.braun@durham.ac.uk 786306IPT 0 0 10.1177/1755088218786306Journal of International Political TheoryBraun research-article 2018 Original Articles