Should We Ban Killer Robots?

By: Deane Baker

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Paperback | 4 February 2022 | Edition Number 1

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140 Pages

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18 x 13 x 1

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Images of killer robots are the stuff of science fiction – but also increasingly of science fact on the battlefield. Should we be worried about this, or is this a normal development in the technology of war?

In this accessible volume ethicist Deane-Peter Baker cuts through the confusion over whether lethal autonomous weapons – the so-called ‘killer robots’ – should be banned. Setting aside unhelpful analogies taken from science fiction, Baker instead looks to our understanding of mercenaries (the metaphorical ‘dogs of war’) and weaponized animals (the literal dogs of war) in order to better understand the ethical challenges raised by the employment of lethal autonomous weapons (the robot dogs of war). These ethical challenges include questions of trust and reliability, control and accountability, as well as motives and dignity. Baker argues that while each of these challenges are significant, they do not – even when considered together – justify a ban on this emerging class of weapon systems.

This book offers a clear point of entry into the debate over lethal autonomous weapons for students, researchers, policy makers and interested general readers.

Industry Reviews

‘In this deceptively small volume, Deane Baker brings his usual clarity and precision to the issue of the ethics of the use of lethal autonomous weapons systems.’
Martin L. Cook, United States Naval War College

‘Engaging, stimulating and well researched. This is not a theoretical treatment for philosophers, but rather an informed and deeply practical exploration of the ethical arguments surrounding machines and killing.’
David Whetham, Director of the Centre for Military Ethics, Kings College, London

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