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Historian Discusses War and Peace at Costello Lecture to “renounce all aggressive war,” factors, he argued “changes t h e s eveNt h a NNua l Costelfollowed, ironically, two years lo Lecture, a series dedicated to in the cultural field of warfare” later, by a declaration of war on were more responsible for the the memory of Brother Casimir Austria, which was considered, increase in death rates. Gabriel Costello, F.S.C., former at the time and well in advance Before the French Revoluchair of the history department, of World War I, to be “a war to tion, he explained, the idea of featured Dr. David A. Bell, the bring about perpetual peace.” war as a part of the societal Andrew W. Mellon Professor “Apocalyptic notions of the order came under attack. Inof the Humanities at Johns last war,” of “regenerative war,” creasingly society “enshrined Hopkins University. In his lecas well as the “criminalizing of the ideal of a peaceful coexture, Culture of War and Peace enemies,” have endured from istence,” as well as the notion in Europe, 1750 – 1815, Bell conthis 18th century inception tended that warfare during the “commerce will replace war,” he point until today, as has the said. A counter-critique was period of 1750-1815 underwent launched questioning the value “twin” concept of eliminating all “a large, interesting shift.” war in favor of “peaceful coexisof a peaceful civilization and The post-revolutionary and tence,” Bell said. equating military prowess with Napoleonic periods showed The Costello Lecture Secivic vitality. Both ideas, though an explosion of war deaths in ries, established in 2002, is France and throughout Europe, apparent opposites, he said, sponsored by alumnus Roger “have departed from the aristowhich were not attributable Goebel ’57, professor of law and cratic vision of social stability.” to the technical evolution of director of the Center on EuroThe French Revolution abolweaponry. Typically, Bell said, ished the nobility and the mon- pean Union Law at Fordham the increase is attributed to University; Patricia Stack, Br. archy and, therefore, the arisrevolutionary ideology and Costello’s niece; and Jack Stack, nationalism. While acknowledg- tocratic notion of warfare. By her husband. 1790, there was a call in France ing the contributions of those
Dr. David A. Bell, the Andrew W. Mellon Professor of the Humanities at Johns Hopkins University, delivers the annual Costello Lecture to an audience in Smith Auditorium, which includes Dr. Claire nolte, professor of history and chairperson of the department (left).
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