Just War and Robots' Killings
Simpson TW, Müller VC (2016)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2016
Journal
Book Volume: 66
Pages Range: 302-322
Journal Issue: 263
DOI: 10.1093/pq/pqv075
Abstract
May lethal autonomous weapons systems-'killer robots'-be used in war? The majority of writers argue against their use, and those who have argued in favour have done so on a consequentialist basis. We defend the moral permissibility of killer robots, but on the basis of the non-Aggregative structure of right assumed by Just War theory. This is necessary because the most important argument against killer robots, the responsibility trilemma proposed by Rob Sparrow, makes the same assumptions. We show that the crucial moral question is not one of responsibility. Rather, it is whether the technology can satisfy the requirements of fairness in the redistribution of risk. Not only is this possible in principle, but some killer robots will actually satisfy these requirements. An implication of our argument is that there is a public responsibility to regulate killer robots' design and manufacture.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
University of Oxford
United Kingdom (GB)
Anatolia College / American College, Κολλέγιο Ανατόλια
Greece (GR)
United Kingdom (GB)
Anatolia College / American College, Κολλέγιο Ανατόλια
Greece (GR)
How to cite
APA:
Simpson, T.W., & Müller, V.C. (2016). Just War and Robots' Killings. Philosophical Quarterly, 66(263), 302-322. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/pq/pqv075
MLA:
Simpson, Thomas W., and Vincent C. Müller. "Just War and Robots' Killings." Philosophical Quarterly 66.263 (2016): 302-322.
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