One in the series New Dialogues in Philosophy, Brian Orend has written an engaging dialogue from the perspectives of a critically injured soldier and his spouse on all questions related to the ethics of going to war and the ethics of fighting in war. Readers learn of the major traditions of thinking about war, including realism, pacifism, just war theory, and international law. Orend draws on a variety of references from the Civil War to the current war in Iraq to illustrate the moral dimension and ambiguity of war.

"Orend (Univ. of Waterloo) succeeds in surveying a full array of crucial issues and arguments in ethics of warfare—the nature and causes of war, just war, pacifism, and international law — against the backdrop of the second Iraw War and its myriad controversies... the book's unique dialogue format, clear exposition, and contemporary relevance may make On War more accesible and engaging to a general audience or lower-level undergraduates. Recommended." - CHOICE, November 2009

"On War: A Dialogue , presents a provocative meander through the complex moral and ethical issues of war. He does this in a way that is scholarly, yet avoids the fog and haze of other heavier philosophical works....Orend nicely balances the often competing goals of imparting knowledge while allowing readers to think for themselves. This book is a wonderful starting point for anyone wanting to examine the major moral and ethical question of war." - International Journal Of Intelligence Ethics, Spring 2010