Dr. Roger Herbert, CAPT USN (ret.) on The Ethics of Special Operations.
What unique ethical challenges do special operators face? In a lunchtime lecture to Midshipmen, Dr. Roger Herbert–USN CAPT (ret.), former commander of SEAL Delivery Team 2, Naval Special Warfare Unit 3 and the Naval Special Warfare Center, and former NE203 course director and instructor–discusses takeaways from his forthcoming book, The Ethics of Special Operations: Raids, Reconnaissance, Recovery and […]
P.O.W.: Passing on Wisdom
Vietnam Prisoners of War recall their experiences and the inspirational story of how they not only survived their imprisonment, but found growth and gratitude afterwards. Their stories are juxtaposed with those of recent Naval Academy Midshipmen who are facing the COVID pandemic and applying those same foundational values to their own experiences. Special | 56m […]
Stockdale Center POW Trailer
Dr. Philip J. Ivanhoe – Confucianism: Then and Now
Is the Chinese regime’s goal of a “harmonious society” consistent with traditional Confucian values? In a short lecture to the Midshipmen, Dr. Philip J. Ivanhoe–former Marine, philosopher at Georgetown University, and author of Oneness: East Asian Conceptions of Virtue, Happiness and How We Are All Connected – provides insights into Confucian ethics and its political implications. A […]
Captain Ryan Bernacchi, Dr. Mark LiVecche – Top Gun Maverick
In the latest edition of the podcast “True North,” Marc LiVecche, the McDonald Distinguished Scholar of Ethics, War, and Public Life at Providence speaks with Captain Ryan Bernacchi, USN (Ret.) about Top Gun: Maverick. Ryan Bernacchi is a former TOPGUN instructor who served as a naval aviator and leader for 25 years. He has flown more than 4,000 […]
Dr. Jovana Davidovik – “What’s Wrong with Wanting a Human in the Loop?”
In a new paper article published in The Texas National Security Review’s journal War on the Rocks, Stockdale Center Senior Fellow Jovana Davidovic, address and challenges a common presupposition of much of the literature on Artificial Intelligence. The title makes plain her challenge: “What’s Wrong with Wanting a Human in the Loop?” The introduction of the paper: At the […]
Dr. James Giordano, Dr. Diane DiEuliis, “Balancing Act: Precision Medicine and National Security”
In a new paper published in Military Medicine, Stockdale Center Distinguished Fellow Dr James Giordano, and Dr Diane DiEuliis of National Defense University address the promise, possibilities and problems posed by advances in precision medicine to public health and national security. The Abstract of the paper: Developments in genetics, pharmacology, biomarker identification, imaging, and interventional biotechnology are enabling […]
How should the laws of armed conflict address the rise of AI-augmented decision-making?
Recently, significant effort has gone into deciding what is the appropriate space for algorithmic decision making in domestic law.[1] From discussions about the constitutionality of police officers’ use of algorithms to justify probable cause, to debates about use of recidivism algorithms in parole hearings, and the use of machine learning to aid judges in deciding on […]
A Code of Ethics for the US Armed Services? A Counterpoint
An Ethics Code for the Armed Forces: A Counterpoint Col Bonadonna’s central thesis is clearly stated up front: “The American military needs a code of ethics.” He argues such a code would “communicate a commitment to the American people.” He goes on to claim “the code would serve as doctrine…concerning the most vital ethical underpinnings of […]
The Least Abhorrent Choice?
The Least Abhorrent Choice? When gaging the morality of the use of atomic weapons to end the Asia Pacific War, one of the things we are obliged to consider is the likely consequences of other options available at the time. We should project their likely efficacy with regard to bringing about timely capitulation with a […]