philosophy of force versus violence

September 3, 2026 in Columnists, News by RBN Staff

 

 

In philosophy, force is typically defined as a neutral or constructive instrument for control, order, and legitimate defense, whereas violence is viewed as a destructive, excessive, or illegitimate violation of rights and wills. [1, 2, 3]
Key Distinctions
  • Force: Act as a leverage or tool for maintaining order, protecting the innocent, and upholding the law. It seeks to restrain harm and preserve stability without necessarily seeking to injure.
  • Violence: Acts as a violation, driven by excess, passion, retaliation, or the suppression of another’s freedom and agency. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Political and Legal Philosophy
  • The State’s Monopoly: Thinkers like Max Weber and Thomas Hobbes argue that the state maintains order through a legal monopoly on violence (or legitimate force), meaning only the state can lawfully wield physical force to govern. [1]
  • Law-Making vs. Law-Preserving: In his Critique of Violence, philosopher Walter Benjamin separates legal power into law-making violence (which founds a new system or border) and law-preserving violence (such as everyday policing and enforcement). [1]
  • Resistance to Domination: Modern political philosophy, such as republican theories of just war, distinguishes between lethal force used to break systemic oppression or enslavement versus unlawful aggression. [1, 2]

 

 

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