A Situational Military Ethic
Abstract
This study investigates military moral problems from the perspective of situation ethics. It explores the feasibility of a situational military ethic using the supreme moral imperative of universal concern which underlies all moral action and from which all principles and rules derive their worth. The study defines the the situational military ethic, and compares it to other ethical approaches, focusing on battlefield dilemmas and close comparison to the Professional Military Ethic (PME). The study concludes that only universal concern has intrinsic value in application to ethical matters. It is found that as military members we are situational ethicists in practice if not in thought. Laws, rules, ethical codes and values shed light on moral matters, but in the end universal concern decides what is right. An improved understanding of situation ethics and how moral choice sometimes rightfully diverges from established norms will help resolve moral difficulties. Despite these findings no change in the PME is warranted due to the difficulty in initiating the moral awareness required to operate the SME, and that a compromise is possible and actually exists between the PME and SME. Ethics, Military ethics, Situation ethics
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA273080
Entities
People
- G. L. Walters
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College