Ethics of Military Deception

<p>Military deception is institutionalized as a practice in warfare to the same extent that warfare is institutionalized as a social practice among the community of nations. However throughout the philosophical history of the West and except for the context of warfare there has existed a strong moral presumption against if not outright proscription of virtually all forms of deception in human affairs. While in almost every context of social intercourse one would be held morally blameworthy for deceiving another certain military deceptions perpetrated in wartime traditionally are heralded as examples of great military cunning and skill--hardly attributes to be regarded as morally blameworthy at all. The purpose of this study is to define exactly what is meant and not meant by military deception to trace the history of the ethical issues raised concerning it over the past two millennia as evidenced in the writings of principal contributors to the just war tradition to propose an ethical account for military deception as a morally acceptable practice in war and to identify the residual issues that the proposed account leaves less than completely resolved.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>