The master’s thesis examines the ethical challenges posed by new military technologies – specifically drones and autonomous weapons – from the perspective of just war theory. Within the broader framework of the ethics of war, it presents the historical development and fundamental principles of just war theory and addresses changes in warfare in the technological age. Drones are analysed both as a means that may contribute to reducing the horrors of war and as a source of new questions to which just war theory must respond, particularly the issues of targeted killing and asymmetrical warfare. The thesis then considers the advantages and risks associated with lethal autonomous weapons. It examines the possibility of banning the development of such weapons and shows why such a ban would be dangerous and most likely unfeasible. Further, it discusses the problem of the human in the loop and the consequences of the difficulty of determining the responsibility for the actions of non-human combatants. In connection with the principles of just war theory, we argue that despite the advantages of new technologies, which can reduce the harm caused in war, serious ethical dilemmas arise that may give us reasons to strongly limit their use. In conclusion, we emphasize that drones and autonomous weapons are not inherently unacceptable, but that it is necessary to address the ethical questions they raise to determine under which circumstances their use is permissible.
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