ABSTRACT
Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy articulated his pacifism in late nineteenth-century Russia. It is fairly clear from his writing that he saw his reflections as applicable beyond his narrow historical context and certainly beyond Russia. The core ethical appeal of Christianity for Tolstoy was the pacifist stance taught and exemplified by Jesus. One of the criticisms of Tolstoyan pacifism is that it is based on a misguided interpretation of Jesus which is so categorical that it is foolish, impractical, and utopian. Some argue that strict pacifism blindly and dangerously ignores ‘human nature’ because violence is an inherent characteristic among human animals, especially in a world of scarce resources and the inevitable struggle for survival. The research produces more practical reflections than Tolstoy’s categorical pacifism, yet both stem from a similar concern about violence. Beyond war, peace, and political violence, there are other areas of scholarship that can enrich the pacifist arguments made by Tolstoy.
