« "A Return to Repugnance" | Main | Peter Steinfels on “More than a Monologue” »
September 21, 2011
"Lethal autonomy" for machines
The Obama administration is expanding its use of drones in the battle against terrorism. Meanwhile, technology appears to be headed toward a time when the human role in the use of drones is dramatically reduced. I'm not categorically opposed to the use of drones, but I am concerned that this is an instance in which a program's political popularity (Who doesn't like the idea of eliminating terrorists with zero risk to American troops?) tends to push ethical questions to the margins. Among other concerns, putting one's own troops at risk tends to focus the public's attention on the moral legitimacy of the justifications offered for the armed conflict in a way that is unlikely to happen when machines do the fighting for us.
Posted by Rob Vischer on September 21, 2011 at 10:11 AM in Vischer, Rob | Permalink
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d834515a9a69e2014e8bb93c9f970d
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference "Lethal autonomy" for machines:
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Sounds like Skynet to me.
Posted by: Mike | Sep 21, 2011 1:54:46 PM
My husband just retired after 30 years of service to the Air Force and my oldest son is currently in the Army, stationed in Afghanistan.I spent much of today walking the halls of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Around every corner was a young man who was maimed from service in Iraq or Afghanistan. The number of amputees I saw brought me to tears. This sight is hidden from most Americans. I understand your concern that using drones might loosen the inhibitions against using military force. However, there is such a disconnect between the military and the general public as it is, that most Americans are only vaguely aware of the sacrifice of our armed forces in the current conflicts. I don't know that many would notice we are losing drones instead of soldiers.
Posted by: Denise | Sep 21, 2011 8:06:24 PM
