An Ethical Evaluation of Lethal Functions in Autoregulative Weapons Systems

This book connects two of the most pressing ethical topics of our time: questions of peace and technology materialized in so-called autonomous weapons systems which can operate without human control and intervention in real time. The author however criticizes the term autonomy as too anthropomorphic and therefore misleading. She consequently proposes using the term autoregulation in its place. Taking a contingent pacifist stance this book addresses the question of whether such technological means help or hinder peace processes. The argument is tripartite. First it is demonstrated that the risk of harm to nonparticipants is very likely to increase. Second and with respect to responsibility it is indicated that a human-machine system can only be operated responsibly if a human is in control. Finally this idea is transferred into theological thought through reference to Bonhoeffer's idea of incurring guilt in acting responsibly. In that context autoregulative technology might pose the possibility of shying away from responsibility--and therefore becoming guilty.This book is among the first ethical considerations of lethal autoregulative weaponry from a contingent pacifist stance and brings together peace ethical thinking and theories from various backgrounds.