Political Economy Project Presents

Greg Reichberg
Should Autonomous Weapon Systems be Allowed to Make Life and Death Decisions in war?

Since 2012 a heated debate has been underway about the use of lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) in war. Proponents of an international ban on LAWS typically maintain that these weapons constitute an affront to human dignity, would lead to dangerous escalations, and at worst would place war under the control of machines. Human agency in warfare would be reduced to activating the machines, while all other decisions, tactical and even strategic, would ultimately vest in them. Is this scenario plausible? And does sound ethical reasoning require states to forgo LAWS, despite the operational advantages that would accrue from their use?

Tuesday, October 22
4:30 PM | ROCKEFELLER 001

Free and open to the public