R. L. Holmes
NONVIOLENCE

1. What is nonviolence? Nonviolence, first of all, should be distinguished from pacifism. Pacifism, essentially, is the renunciation of war. Nonviolence, in its negative aspect, is renunciation of violence.

But violence may be physical (the use of force to harm or kill), and may be directed against persons or objects. Or it may be psychological (the infliction of mental harm or pain). Violence may also be institutional or structural (the causing of physical and/or mental harm through institutions, practices, or customs whose primary purpose is thought to be good). Nonviolence may renounce psychological and institutional as well as physical violence.

2. But nonviolence isn't passive. It involves an active commitment to ending violence and combating injustice. Thus we may say:

Negatively, nonviolence is the renunciation of violence in any or all of its dimensions.

Positively, nonviolence is an active commitment to ending violence violence and injustice of any or all of its sorts.

3. The possible grounds of nonviolence. Nonviolence may be held either on moral or spiritual/religious grounds or on the pragmatic ground of its alleged effectiveness. Thus we may distinguish:

PRINCIPLED NONVIOLENCE: The holding of nonviolence on moral or spiritual grounds, which may or may not be effective practically (e.g. Tolstoy, Gandhi, King).

PRAGMATIC NONVIOLENCE: The holding of nonviolence on purely practical grounds, in the belief that it's a more effective form of social or political power than violence (e.g., Gene Sharp).

4. Forms of Nonviolence:
a. Nonresistance (Tolstoy)
b. Passive Resistance (early Gandhi)
c. Active Nonviolence (later Gandhi, King).

Readings: R. L. Holmes and Barry Gan (eds.), Nonviolence in Theory & Practice, 2nd ed. (Wadsworth).