Pros and Cons of Autonomous Weapons Systems
Military Review, May-June 2017
11 Pages Posted: 4 May 2017
Date Written: April 28, 2017
Abstract
As technology progresses and autonomous weapons increasingly become a reality rather than mere science fiction, an ethical debate has developed surrounding the use of such weapons, which operate with little or no human oversight. Some view the use of autonomous weapons as morally preferable (not to mention strategically advantageous), as they can be used in place of human combatants. Others oppose their use for moral and legal reasons. The article discusses challenges to limiting and defining autonomous weapons, and proposes seeking international agreement to ban fully autonomous weapons — those which cannot be recalled — as a first step toward addressing the issues raised.
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