October, 1911
CONTENTS
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
Power of the peace idea—Causes of the love of peace in Germany—
German consciousness of strength—Lack of definite political aims
—Perilous situation of Germany and the conditions of successful
self-assertion—Need to test the authority of the peace idea, and to
explain the tasks and aims of Germany in the light of history
CHAPTER I THE RIGHT TO MAKE WAR
Pacific ideals and arbitration—The biological necessity of war—The
duty of self-assertion—The right of conquest—The struggle for
employment—War a moral obligation—Beneficent results of war
—War from the Christian and from the materialist standpoints—
Arbitration and international law—Destructiveness and immorality
of peace aspirations—Real and Utopian humanity—Dangerous
results of peace aspirations in Germany—The duty of
the State
CHAPTER II THE DUTY TO MAKE WAR
Bismarck and the justification of war—The duty to fight—The teaching
of history—War only justifiable on adequate grounds—The
foundations of political morality—Political and individual morality
—The grounds for making war—The decision to make war—The
responsibility of the statesman