The Ethics of Choosing Deterrence

Abstract Any threat to use nuclear weapons inherently carries the possibility of escalation a level such that both parties in conflict, and likely many others, would be destroyed. Yet are also seen as necessary for securing very things destroyed if were ever used. The fix this dilemma relies on strategy deterrence. Deterrence provides rationale why necessary, even though they may seem dangerous. But practice deterrence involves less intentionality agency than is usually assumed. success partially luck well unrealistic assumptions about human behavior. Rather strategic necessity, an institutionalized behavior, accepted because it has always been practiced rather makes sense. Assessing ethics requires engaging with these issues.