The paper contributes to peace studies from the perspective of philosophical fundamentals. It begins with the Aristotelian definitions of peace. Then, it applies to the concept of peace some ontological categories from Aristotle’s Ethics and Categories, supplemented by their later Neoplatonic interpretations. The paper will argue that the concept of sustainable peace is the only kind of peace that features ontological fullness, as opposed to any conditional peace or truce. This peace will be presented in the paper as a stable entity (τὸ ὄν). Its natural properties (ἰδιότητες φυσικαί) include justice. In Aristotelian dialectics, natural property is inseparable from its nature, φύσις. If το όν loses its natural property, it ceases to be itself. This applies to sustainable peace, which would cease to be peace if it were deprived of justice. Justice is an ethical category, a kind of εἶδος under the broader category of γένος, which is ethics. Therefore, sustainable peace, to exist and remain itself, cannot be immoral or indifferent to morality. Justice and morality are conditions sine qua non for it. There are also categories of συμβεβηκῶτα within the same Aristotelian-Neoplatonic dialectics that apply to peace. Transition and reparatory justice can be viewed as such. They typically constitute parts of any roadmap to peace. Finally, the paper will argue that the peacemaking process in Ukraine, as a case study, can be perceived as a hypostasis (ὑπόστασις) or “first substance” (πρώτη οὐσία) of a more general “second substance” (δευτέρα οὐσία) or simply ουσία of sustainable peace.

Authors:
Cyril Hovorun, University College Stockholm, Sweden

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Posted by James Alexander Gordon

Last updated: 2023-02-23 23:45:00

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