The rise of remote warfare, drone strikes, and autonomous weapons systems is transforming not only modern battlefields but also the very nature of morality, responsibility, and the human mind. The Distance of Death: Ethics and Psychology of Remote Violence explores the psychological, ethical, and technological complexities of remote combat, examining how moral injury, cognitive dissonance, and emotional desensitization emerge in drone operators, military personnel, and societies impacted by long-distance killing. From the control rooms of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the invisible collateral damage experienced by civilians, this book investigates the profound effects of psychological distance in warfare and the moral dilemmas created by digital and autonomous military technology.
Combining historical perspectives, case studies, and cutting-edge research in military psychology, ethics, and cognitive science, The Distance of Death delves into the mental health challenges faced by drone operators, including PTSD, trauma, and vicarious stress. It explores how the so-called PlayStation mentality and technological mediation of violence can alter empathy, moral judgment, and human perception of life and death. Readers will gain insight into just war theory as applied to modern remote warfare, the ethical implications of targeted killings, and the accountability issues surrounding autonomous weapons systems. The book also examines the perception of collateral damage, public opinion, and media representation of remote violence, highlighting how societies negotiate the moral legitimacy of distant killing and the psychological burden it places on individuals.
By addressing both psychological and philosophical dimensions, the book provides strategies for moral repair, ethical decision-making, and resilience for military operators, policymakers, and society at large. It emphasizes the importance of ethical frameworks, international law, and psychological support systems in mitigating moral erosion and preserving accountability in the age of digital warfare. Themes include the moral responsibility of individuals in remote combat, the emotional and cognitive consequences of long-distance violence, and the social and cultural contexts that shape our understanding of ethics in warfare.
Perfect for students of military ethics, psychologists, scholars of war studies, policymakers, and anyone interested in the intersection of technology, morality, and human psychology, this book illuminates the hidden consequences of remote warfare. It challenges readers to confront the pressing question of our era: how can empathy, moral responsibility, and ethical accountability survive when killing becomes mediated by screens, drones, data, and distance? The Distance of Death is an essential exploration of modern conflict, revealing how the evolution of warfare reshapes the human psyche, challenges ethical norms, and tests the boundaries of moral courage in a technologically-driven world.
