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Military Ethics: What Everyone Needs to Know®
What significance does "ethics" have for the men and women serving in the military forces of nations around the world? What core values and moral principles collectively guide the members of this "military profession?"
This book explains these essential moral foundations, along with "just war theory," international relations, and international law. The ethical foundations that define the "Profession of Arms" have developed over millennia from the shared moral values, unique role responsibilities, and occasional reflection by individual members the profession on their own practices - eventually coming to serve as the basis for the "Law of Armed Conflict" itself.
This book focuses upon the ordinary men and women around the world who wear a military uniform and are committed to the defense of their countries and their fellow citizens. It is about what they do, how they do it, what they think about it, how they behave when carrying out their activities, and how they are expected to behave, both on and off the battlefield (whether in, or out of, uniform) - and what everyone (and not just military personnel themselves) needs to know about this.
The book also examines how military personnel are treated and regarded by those whom they have sworn to defend and protect, as well as how they treat and regard one another within their respective services and organizational settings. Finally, the book discusses the transformations in military professionalism occasioned by new developments in armed conflict, ranging counterinsurgency warfare and humanitarian military intervention, to cyber conflict, military robotics, and private military contracting. From China to Russia, author George Lucas effectively sheds light on today's military ethics in existence throughout the world.
What Everyone Needs to Know? is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press.
This book explains these essential moral foundations, along with "just war theory," international relations, and international law. The ethical foundations that define the "Profession of Arms" have developed over millennia from the shared moral values, unique role responsibilities, and occasional reflection by individual members the profession on their own practices - eventually coming to serve as the basis for the "Law of Armed Conflict" itself.
This book focuses upon the ordinary men and women around the world who wear a military uniform and are committed to the defense of their countries and their fellow citizens. It is about what they do, how they do it, what they think about it, how they behave when carrying out their activities, and how they are expected to behave, both on and off the battlefield (whether in, or out of, uniform) - and what everyone (and not just military personnel themselves) needs to know about this.
The book also examines how military personnel are treated and regarded by those whom they have sworn to defend and protect, as well as how they treat and regard one another within their respective services and organizational settings. Finally, the book discusses the transformations in military professionalism occasioned by new developments in armed conflict, ranging counterinsurgency warfare and humanitarian military intervention, to cyber conflict, military robotics, and private military contracting. From China to Russia, author George Lucas effectively sheds light on today's military ethics in existence throughout the world.
What Everyone Needs to Know? is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2015
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About the author
George Lucas
11 books2 followersFor the creator of the Star Wars films, see George Lucas.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 24, 2020
For anyone who wonders what place ethics have in a job often characterized as "killing people and breaking things," Military Ethics: What Everyone Needs to Know, by U.S. Naval Academy professor George Lucas offers some answers. He begins by considering military service as a profession on equal footing with other communities of professional practice, and searching for a common core of values that span cultural and situational values.
Defining a professional as a distinctive practice that requires mastery of specialized knowledge, technical assumptions, and service to a wider public, enables Lucas to search for the core values of professional groups and the limits they place on their acceptable practice. If healthcare professionals, for example, can hold some values in common -- such as resolving to do no harm -- despite cultural differences in the way they administer care, it can be possible to find similar common values among members of the military profession?
Lucas believes this to be so, and in the first part of Military Ethics traces the historical development of such common core values in military, including the theory of just (justifiable) war.
In the end, Lucas believes that moral essence of the military professional is "being prepared to employ deadly force and only as much force as the situation requires, not for the purpose of killing in itself, but for the purpose of protecting others from being killed or injured."
Lucas uses the second part of his book to explore particular challenges, to military ethics, such as the use of private contractors, humanitarian relief interventions, unmanned systems, and cyber warfare. I found the chapter on cyber warfare, with the possibility of formulating a new code for the cyber warrior, particularly intriguing.
Each chapter of Military Ethics includes both notes and suggestions for further reading. (Readers particularly interested in the historical development of the concept of "just war" may also like The Internationalists: How a Radical Plan to Outlaw War Remade the World, by Donna A. Hathaway and Scott J. Shapiro.)
Defining a professional as a distinctive practice that requires mastery of specialized knowledge, technical assumptions, and service to a wider public, enables Lucas to search for the core values of professional groups and the limits they place on their acceptable practice. If healthcare professionals, for example, can hold some values in common -- such as resolving to do no harm -- despite cultural differences in the way they administer care, it can be possible to find similar common values among members of the military profession?
Lucas believes this to be so, and in the first part of Military Ethics traces the historical development of such common core values in military, including the theory of just (justifiable) war.
In the end, Lucas believes that moral essence of the military professional is "being prepared to employ deadly force and only as much force as the situation requires, not for the purpose of killing in itself, but for the purpose of protecting others from being killed or injured."
Lucas uses the second part of his book to explore particular challenges, to military ethics, such as the use of private contractors, humanitarian relief interventions, unmanned systems, and cyber warfare. I found the chapter on cyber warfare, with the possibility of formulating a new code for the cyber warrior, particularly intriguing.
Each chapter of Military Ethics includes both notes and suggestions for further reading. (Readers particularly interested in the historical development of the concept of "just war" may also like The Internationalists: How a Radical Plan to Outlaw War Remade the World, by Donna A. Hathaway and Scott J. Shapiro.)
January 17, 2026
What are the parameters of war? Can a military member indiscriminately kill women and children? How can drones and unmanned systems be used?
These are some of the basic questions asked in George Lucas' (not the Star Wars guy) Military Ethics: What Everyone Needs to Know. This little book provides an introduction to the concept of military ethics and should be a big help to all military members whether junior enlisted or senior officer.
The book is divided into two main sections. The first provides the philosophical foundations for just war theory, constraints of power and violence, and provides a broad overview of the discussion so far. Lucas surprised me because he understands the Christian tradition more than most modern American Christians.
The second part deals with more practical applications - i.e. the use of drones, cyberwarfare, etc. I found this section to be a little less engaging than I would have liked, but that also may be because I find myself gravitating towards the broader philosophical movements. However, this section will be instructive for many military ethics classes.
Lucas' writing is clear, concise, and jargon free. He clearly explains military systems and protocols and this book should be easy to read for those who have no military experience.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone in the military or who might be curious about the debates that are being had.
Grade: B+
These are some of the basic questions asked in George Lucas' (not the Star Wars guy) Military Ethics: What Everyone Needs to Know. This little book provides an introduction to the concept of military ethics and should be a big help to all military members whether junior enlisted or senior officer.
The book is divided into two main sections. The first provides the philosophical foundations for just war theory, constraints of power and violence, and provides a broad overview of the discussion so far. Lucas surprised me because he understands the Christian tradition more than most modern American Christians.
The second part deals with more practical applications - i.e. the use of drones, cyberwarfare, etc. I found this section to be a little less engaging than I would have liked, but that also may be because I find myself gravitating towards the broader philosophical movements. However, this section will be instructive for many military ethics classes.
Lucas' writing is clear, concise, and jargon free. He clearly explains military systems and protocols and this book should be easy to read for those who have no military experience.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone in the military or who might be curious about the debates that are being had.
Grade: B+
July 23, 2021
A decent introductory text. However, most of the arguments are not well fleshed out or go deep enough to explain why something is ethical or not. There are many assumptions made to keep the book moving, but hold true in fewer cases than assumed. The chapters on contracted military force, cyber, and unmanned systems were especially disappointing.
Initial discussions on the history of the warrior ethos were good background, but I would stop there. My summary: "Here is what is right because we've always done this, it's the Christian thing to do, America are the good guys (admitting a few "exceptions") and everyone else is wrong but we're not really willing to do anything different about it." Sticking to tradition can be good if reasoned through completely, and the author does acknowledge some of the self-imposed limitations.
Initial discussions on the history of the warrior ethos were good background, but I would stop there. My summary: "Here is what is right because we've always done this, it's the Christian thing to do, America are the good guys (admitting a few "exceptions") and everyone else is wrong but we're not really willing to do anything different about it." Sticking to tradition can be good if reasoned through completely, and the author does acknowledge some of the self-imposed limitations.
December 13, 2023
Perfect foundational reading to introduce laymen and students to the topic! For its length and purpose it is an excellent read.
May 18, 2023
This book is worth the price in money and time in the citations alone. Briefly outlines different perspectives and arguments around military ethics, but definitely not exhaustive. The citations are great starting points to really understand a referenced topic.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews