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Whether military AI endsup being closer to a heart valve or a gas chamber, it's going to be built first by some nation. But there is space for ethical contempl

Whether military AI endsup being closer to a heart valve or a gas chamber, it's going to be built first by some nation. But there is space for ethical contemplation during an arms race.

killjoywashere 9y ago
Absolutely. As consequentialist first move, let me suggest that a first order principle for the US military is "Sweat now or bleed later". Better to work your ass off to develop superior tactics, discipline, and technology now than die later. No one hates war more than soldiers.
- jstanley 9y ago
  If soldiers hate war so much why do they join up?
  - hueving 9y ago
    The best way out of a terrible life for many poor people. If you didn't do great in school and don't have rich parents to pay for college, the military in the US will look great with its education perks and chance to "see the world".
  - pteredactyl 9y ago
    They believe in their country, what it represents, and are willing to sacrifice their life for it. In the US, it's the Constitution, to which they make an oath to upon joining. Or they're broke, have their back against the wall, and can get good training and education through the military.
  - gaius 9y ago
    Possibly because the one thing worse than war is being invaded, history has shown that
  - geodel 9y ago
    Same reason most people work on jobs they hate. Gotta work for money to live.
  - ionised 9y ago
    Predatory sign-up practices in low-income neighbourhoods, and a systemic and relentless propaganda campaign starting in nursery school that instils jingoist rhetoric and military worship.
    - supertrope 9y ago
      To play devil's advocate, we (USA) have a volunteer military. Even if you think it's a "poverty draft" driven by structural unemployment and dearth of opportunities in left behind cities and rural areas it's still not conscription. How should the military fill its ranks? Would you rather have a lottery?

Whether military AI endsup being closer to a heart valve or a gas chamber, it's going to be built first by some nation. But there is space for ethical contemplation during an arms race.

killjoywashere 9y ago

Absolutely. As consequentialist first move, let me suggest that a first order principle for the US military is "Sweat now or bleed later". Better to work your ass off to develop superior tactics, discipline, and technology now than die later. No one hates war more than soldiers.

jstanley 9y ago
If soldiers hate war so much why do they join up?
- hueving 9y ago
  The best way out of a terrible life for many poor people. If you didn't do great in school and don't have rich parents to pay for college, the military in the US will look great with its education perks and chance to "see the world".
- pteredactyl 9y ago
  They believe in their country, what it represents, and are willing to sacrifice their life for it. In the US, it's the Constitution, to which they make an oath to upon joining. Or they're broke, have their back against the wall, and can get good training and education through the military.
- gaius 9y ago
  Possibly because the one thing worse than war is being invaded, history has shown that
- geodel 9y ago
  Same reason most people work on jobs they hate. Gotta work for money to live.
- ionised 9y ago
  Predatory sign-up practices in low-income neighbourhoods, and a systemic and relentless propaganda campaign starting in nursery school that instils jingoist rhetoric and military worship.
  - supertrope 9y ago
    To play devil's advocate, we (USA) have a volunteer military. Even if you think it's a "poverty draft" driven by structural unemployment and dearth of opportunities in left behind cities and rural areas it's still not conscription. How should the military fill its ranks? Would you rather have a lottery?