Under Construction @ Keele 2017 Under Construction @ Keele Vol. III (3) | Page 42

pacifism – and even though their contingent nature is well-obscured, it is always
present. Therefore, every type of pacifism is context-dependent, and some of the
criticisms which have been made of “absolute” pacifism no longer apply. That which
is called “absolute” pacifism has a rich, surprisingly varied and sometimes
astounding history, and is the lived, everyday experience for peoples as diverse as
the Amish and the Jains. Far from being a single and wrong note, it is a symphony
waiting to be listened to, and is surely deserving of a more sophisticated and
respectful analysis than it has hitherto received. I hope that this paper will stimulate a
reassessment of this area of thought, which, in the light of recent geopolitical events,
is long overdue.