Reconstructing the ethics of war: Classical and contemporary reflections in the technological age

Abstract

Background: War has long been a central theme in philosophy, from Aristotle’s teleological ethics to Hegel’s dialectical historicism. In today’s technological era, however, war is increasingly defined by drones, cyber conflict and algorithmic decision-making, raising urgent questions about ethics, responsibility and legitimacy.
Objectives: This article examines how classical and modern philosophical frameworks engage with the ethics of war and explores whether they can still provide conceptual clarity and moral guidance in an age where technology mediates violence.
Method: A comparative philosophical analysis is undertaken. Texts from Aristotle, Hegel, Heidegger and Habermas are placed in dialogue with the Just War tradition, alongside contemporary debates on technology, law and global ethics.
Results: The analysis shows that while Aristotle and Hegel interpret war within frameworks of virtue and history, these views risk either exclusion or normalisation of conflict. Just War Theory offers normative restraint but faces new challenges from remote and automated warfare. Heidegger’s ontology exposes how technology enframes war, while Habermas provides a normative counterpoint grounded in discourse ethics and international law.
Conclusion: Traditional concepts remain indispensable but must be critically reinterpreted. The ethical grammar of war is strained by technological change, demanding both renewed normative frameworks and intercultural perspectives beyond the Western canon.
Contribution: The article advances the idea of ‘moving thought’: a dynamic philosophical disposition responsive to technological, ethical and global plurality. It contributes to debates on war and justice by reactivating classical insights in the light of contemporary technological and humanitarian challenges.