\u201cAn Eye Turned into a Weapon\u201d: a Philosophical Investigation of Remote Controlled, Automated, and Autonomous Drone Warfare

Oliver Müller

doi:10.1007/s13347-020-00440-5

Abstract

Military drones (unmanned combat aerial vehicles) combine surveillance technology with missile equipment in a far-reaching way. In this article, I argue that military drones could and should be object for a philosophical investigation, referring in particular on Chamayou’s theory of the drone, who also coined the term “an eye turned into a weapon.” Focusing on issues of human self-understanding, agency, and alterity, I examine the intricate human-technology relations in the context of designing and deploying military drones. For that purpose, I am drawing on the postphenomenological approach developed by Don Ihde in order to systematize the manifold aspects of human-technology relations in a four-level model (embodiment relations, hermeneutic relations, alterity relations, and background relations). This inquiry also includes a critical reflection on the (often hidden) normative implications of this technology. In doing so, I do not intent to offer an exhaustive relational ontology of military drones. I rather aim at providing a framework that is able to capture the core dimensions of this technology and their complex interrelations in a systematic way that has been missing in the philosophical debate so far.

Highlights

Unmanned combat aerial vehicles, known as “combat drones,” combine surveillance technology with missile equipment
We can see the importance of reflecting on new forms of agencies and questions of alterity when we look at the “Argument from Human Agency” that Alex Leveringhaus recently had put forward (Leveringhaus 2016a, 89–117)
I will draw on the idea of a “relational ontology” developed in postphenomenology in order to describe and critically reflect the complexities of autonomous weapon systems

Summary

Introduction

Known as “combat drones,” combine surveillance technology with missile equipment. I will draw on the idea of a “relational ontology” developed in postphenomenology in order to describe and critically reflect the complexities of autonomous weapon systems Following this relational approach, I will focus on the changes in human self-understanding, agency, and alterity, with a special view on drone warfare. My primary purpose is not to apply this method but rather to provide a systematic review of the postphenomenologically relevant literature that shows the complexities of humantechnology interactions with a view on drone warfare On this basis, I would like to demonstrate how we could describe core aspects of human self-understanding, alterity, and hybrid agencies that are crucial in the field of drone warfare (which are related to other fields of human-technology interaction). Though I mainly discuss the philosophical questions based on the state of the art of combat drones in the following pages, I will mention some possible upcoming challenges with respect to the (technological envisioned and/or politically expedited) autonomy of these weapon systems

Embodiment Relations

Hermeneutic Relations

Alterity Relations

Background Relations

Closing Remarks