A Companion to the Philosophy of Technology

Ethics and the Possession of Nuclear Weapons

If using nuclear weapons is morally unacceptable, what about having nuclear weapons? At first sight it seems evident that possessing nuclear weapons should be unacceptable, too. But reality is not that simple. Nuclear weapons exist, and the knowledge to make them will always continue to exist. These weapons cannot be “uninvented.”

Moreover, in line with the prophetic words of Bernard Brodie, the nuclear weapon has above all become a weapon of deterrence: preventing other states from using their nuclear weapons. Some even say that having nuclear weapons as such is deterring already. Nuclear weapons imply deterring, preventing others from using nuclear weapons. If this is the case, possession could be morally acceptable. But immediately the next question rises: Is the risky game of deterrence really working? And there is always the issue of accidental use of nuclear weapons. So the crucial question remains: Is deterring with nuclear weapons morally acceptable if using them is morally unacceptable?