Military Ethics

George Lucas is Professor Emeritus at the Naval Postgraduate School (Monterey, CA), and formerly held the Distinguished Chair in Ethics at the U.S. Naval Academy. He is currently President of the original chapter of the International Society for Military Ethics (ISME), and editor of the new Routledge Handbook of Military Ethics (2015), containing contributions from military leaders and civilian scholars and educators around the world. Together with Captain W. R. Rubel (U.S. Navy, retired), he is co-editor of a textbook Ethics and the Military Profession: the Moral Foundations of Leadership, and its companion volume, Case Studies in Military Ethics, both widely used in military service academies and in Reserve Officer training (ROTC) programs in colleges and universities throughout the U.S. He currently serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Military Ethics, and teaches as a visiting scholar at the French Military Academy (Saint-Cyr).

• Dedication AcknowledgementsForeword: General John R. Allen, U.S. Marine Corps (retired) Introduction: Why Military Ethics?Part One: The Moral Foundations of the Military ProfessionChapter 1: Ethics and the Profession of ArmsChapter 2: Military Ethics and International LawChapter 3: The Ancient Origins of Military EthicsChapter 4: Military Ethics and the "Just War Tradition"Chapter 5: Military Ethics Apart from CombatPart Two: Ethical Challenges Facing the Military ProfessionChapter 6: The Ethics of Defense and Private Security ContractingChapter 7: Military Interventions for Humanitarian ReliefChapter 8: Military Ethics and Unmanned SystemsChapter 9: Military Ethics and Cyber SecurityEpilogue: Reconsidering Ethics with the Profession of ArmsAdditional Expressions of GratitudeIndex

"Professor Lucas has constructed a gem of a book. It is a true innovation in the complex and challenging field of military ethics. His approach is engaging and unique in that he tackles the major themes through a process of incisive questions and comprehensive answers. His analysis of the issues ranges from the influence of the Greeks, just war theory, St Thomas Aquinas and Kant through to the contemporary challenges of private security contractors, drones,cyber and robotics. Highly recommended for field commanders, military educators and general readers alike." --Jamie Cullens, Colonel, ADF (retired) and Director, Centre for Defence Leadership and Ethics,Australian Defence College, Canberra"George Lucas, in Military Ethics: What Everyone Needs to Know, offers us an excellent, compact, and highly-readable account. Interest in military ethics has exploded in recent years, and Lucas here constructs a masterful introduction which is both easy-to-read and filled with helpful real-world examples. In the first part, he details the foundations of professional military ethics, which range from ancient custom through just war theory and intointernational law. In the second, Lucas applies the established practices of military ethics to such cutting-edge issues as: private security companies; drones; cyber-warfare; and using military force in aid ofhumanitarian crises. Highly recommended for anyone interested in professional military ethics." --Brian Orend, author of The Morality of War"With scholarly erudition and a deep understanding of the military milieu, Professor Lucas explores the myriad ethical challenges facing soldiers and provides a clear basis for how to think about them. This work takes on ancient issues of just war theory as well as challenges presented by emerging technologies. It should be required reading for all, military and civilian alike." --Major General Robert H. Latiff, Ph.D. (US Air Force, retired) and ResearchProfessor and Director of the Intelligence and Security Research Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia"George Lucas has written the ideal introduction to military ethics. The book that is engaging, comprehensive, and deeply erudite. From ancient sources to the battlefield frontiers of military robots and cyber-war, Lucas ranges across different traditions and historical periods to shows how we can make sense of the ethical problems of war. Whether citizen or serviceman, the need to reflect on the ethics of military action has never been greater. This is theperfect guide." --David Rodin, Co-Director and Senior Research Fellow, Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict, University of Oxford"No one understands the significance of ethics in the military more so than renowned Professor Emeritus George Lucas." - Christopher Booth, United States Coast Guard Officer