Ethics and New Defense Technology | Tobias Gibson

Ethics and New Defense Technology

By Tobias Gibson
March 3, 2015 | The Hill

“What did you dream? It’s alright we told you what to dream.” — Pink Floyd, “Welcome to the Machine”

Recently, there have been two trends, which when combined have a potential disconcerting impact for the future. First, with the rise of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers and educational opportunities, there has been a move to limit or cut the study in, and of, traditional liberal arts disciplines such as history, English and philosophy. The idea seems to be that STEM fields do not require the understanding of something as “soft” as culture or ethics.

At the same time, there is very clearly a move toward increasing dependence on, and use of, emerging technology. Some include advanced technology in everyday activities, such as the imminent emergence of the “Internet of things.” Some, however, include more efficient weapons on battlefields, in naval combat and in the air, quite frankly continuing the process from war being a human endeavor to one melding humankind and machines into mechanized warriors. Indeed, the U.S. military is proudly designing the Iron Man “suit.” This suit is the play thing of a fictional billionaire playboy superhero, but may eventually be deployed as part of a “boots on the ground” strategy.

Gibson is an associate professor of political science at Westminster College in Missouri and a National Security Network (NSN) fellow. The views expressed here are not necessarily the views of NSN.

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