Publication Details

Abstract

This article focuses on the ongoing debate on the definition of autonomous weapon systems. This debate is introduced using two approaches to the definition of autonomy: (1) autonomy as the human – machine relation, and (2) autonomy as the complexity of a machine’s decision-making capabilities. The aim of the text is to critically review the current state of the debate and analyze the key issues related to each approach to defining autonomous weapons. I argue that in the current discourse, neither of these approaches offer definitions that could become the basis for regulating autonomous weapon systems.