John Kultgen is professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

• Chapter 1. IntroductionChapter 2. Patriotic AbolitionismChapter 3. The Moral Dimension of LeadershipChapter 4. The Immorality of Nuclear DeterrenceChapter 5. Global Strike Capability and the American EmpireChapter 6. Deterrence and the Probability of Nuclear WarChapter 7. The Cost of ImplementationChapter 8. Abolition and Its AlternativesChapter 9. The Challenge Chapter 10. Plans of ActionChapter 11. Final Thoughts

In this thoughtful treatise, John Kultgen argues that the U.S. must abandon cold war ways of thinking that have corrupted American politics and take the lead in a worldwide effort to abolish nuclear weapons. This first step, in conjunction with the establishment of new methods of resolving conflicts, would put the country and the world on a path toward more genuine security. Kultgen seeks to convince his fellow citizens that taking action to demand the abolition of nuclear weapons is more than ever both a moral imperative and a patriotic duty. I hope he succeeds.

John Kultgen is professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

• Chapter 1. IntroductionChapter 2. Patriotic AbolitionismChapter 3. The Moral Dimension of LeadershipChapter 4. The Immorality of Nuclear DeterrenceChapter 5. Global Strike Capability and the American EmpireChapter 6. Deterrence and the Probability of Nuclear WarChapter 7. The Cost of ImplementationChapter 8. Abolition and Its AlternativesChapter 9. The Challenge Chapter 10. Plans of ActionChapter 11. Final Thoughts

In this thoughtful treatise, John Kultgen argues that the U.S. must abandon cold war ways of thinking that have corrupted American politics and take the lead in a worldwide effort to abolish nuclear weapons. This first step, in conjunction with the establishment of new methods of resolving conflicts, would put the country and the world on a path toward more genuine security. Kultgen seeks to convince his fellow citizens that taking action to demand the abolition of nuclear weapons is more than ever both a moral imperative and a patriotic duty. I hope he succeeds.

John Kultgen is professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

• Chapter 1. IntroductionChapter 2. Patriotic AbolitionismChapter 3. The Moral Dimension of LeadershipChapter 4. The Immorality of Nuclear DeterrenceChapter 5. Global Strike Capability and the American EmpireChapter 6. Deterrence and the Probability of Nuclear WarChapter 7. The Cost of ImplementationChapter 8. Abolition and Its AlternativesChapter 9. The Challenge Chapter 10. Plans of ActionChapter 11. Final Thoughts

In this thoughtful treatise, John Kultgen argues that the U.S. must abandon cold war ways of thinking that have corrupted American politics and take the lead in a worldwide effort to abolish nuclear weapons. This first step, in conjunction with the establishment of new methods of resolving conflicts, would put the country and the world on a path toward more genuine security. Kultgen seeks to convince his fellow citizens that taking action to demand the abolition of nuclear weapons is more than ever both a moral imperative and a patriotic duty. I hope he succeeds.