The Rights of War and Peace

This treatise sets out a systematic theory of relations among states grounded in natural law and moral reasoning, defining when force is permissible and how it must be limited. It analyzes just causes for hostility, lawful conduct in warfare, treatment of combatants and civilians, maritime rights, treaties, and diplomatic obligations, and examines sovereignty, property, and contractual duties between political communities. Arguments combine legal doctrine, philosophical principles, and theological considerations to derive rules intended to regulate conflict and peace. The text is organized as a series of analytic expositions that balance ethical norms with practical legal prescriptions.