Ethics and the Profession of Arms

Undergraduate

Standards of ethical and moral behavior are integral to the military profession in the United States, but history has shown that ethical theory and practice on the battlefield do not always align. This course examines how moral and ethical philosophies have shaped the traditions of military service in the United States. However, the subject matter is applicable to all who aspire to positions of leadership, whether in the military, public or private sector. Various theories of moral reasoning, including Aristotelian virtue ethics, stoicism, divine command, liberty and rights, utilitarianism, natural law, and moral duty are discussed and applied to military case studies from World War II to Afghanistan. Constitutional ethics, just war theory, and conduct on the battlefield are examined in relation to their influence on American military traditions and regulations. The course is centered around the following questions: Why is an ethical code of conduct essential to the military profession? When and under what conditions is the use of lethal force justified? What is the meaning of an officer’s constitutional oath? Is the “American way of war” consistent with our founding principles? HU HTBA