Moral Realism and the Operational Art
Abstract
This study seeks to provide an analytic framework for modeling moral influences. A moral influence is any person, institution, law, custom, or system that improves or worsens the moral capacities of actors in the operational environment. Joint doctrine obstructs analysis of moral influences because it implicitly accepts antirealism, a metaethical view according to which the truth-value of moral claims is subjective. Antirealism undermines commonsense explanations of moral influences. Worse yet, anti-realism is incompatible with the moral foundation of the profession of arms. This study provides philosophical and practical arguments for rejecting antirealism. It provides a model for moral influences based on moral realism, the view that the truth-value of moral claims does not depend on the perspective of any person or group. The model offered here integrates with the system-centric descriptions of the operational environment offered in Joint Planning and Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 18, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1157374
Entities
People
- Anthony C. Lupo
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College