Title: Ethics and Decision-Making in Modern Warfare

Location: US

Company: King's College London

About this course:
As modern warfare continues to evolve—shaped by new technologies, globalised conflict zones, and complex political landscapes—ethical decision-making has never been more crucial. This course, Ethics and Decision-Making in Modern Warfare, offers a rigorous exploration of the moral, legal, and practical challenges faced by those engaged in armed conflict today. Whether you are a military professional, policymaker, student, or simply interested in the ethics of war, this course provides the intellectual tools needed to understand and navigate these issues with clarity and confidence.
You will begin by examining the foundational concepts of ethics, morality, and law, and how they intersect in military contexts. Building on this, the course explores the boundaries between lawful and ethical action, highlighting real-world dilemmas faced by individuals and institutions in operational environments.
The heart of the course lies in its in-depth examination of the three main traditions of ethical thinking: virtue ethics, consequentialism, and deontology (duty-based ethics). You will learn to analyse situations through these different lenses and appreciate how each framework offers distinct insights and potential solutions. Through interactive content, reflective exercises, and practical case studies, you will develop a nuanced understanding of how to evaluate complex moral questions.
In the final part of the course, you will learn how to apply ethical triangulation—a method that draws on all three traditions—to resolve challenging ethical dilemmas in realistic military scenarios. This structured approach empowers you to move beyond theoretical understanding and apply ethical reasoning in practice.
Designed by Professor David Whetham, a leading expert in military ethics from King’s College London, the course draws on years of experience teaching ethics to military officers around the world. It is self-paced, accessible, and requires no prior qualifications.
By the end of the course, you will be able to critically engage with the ethical dimensions of modern warfare, question assumptions, recognise competing values, and make well-informed, principled decisions in the face of moral complexity.
This is a short course that can be completed in 5 hours — designed to be flexible and fit into your schedule.

Define ethics, morality, and law in military settings

Examine how law and ethics work together

Identify ethical problems in military life

Distinguish between lawful and ethical actions

Understand virtue-based ethical decision-making

Understand consequentialist ethical decision-making

Understand duty-based ethical decision-making

Compare key ethical frameworks for military use

Apply ethical models to real-world dilemmas

Analyse complex military scenarios using case studies

Evaluate ethical outcomes of military decisions

Use ethical triangulation to resolve dilemmas

Navigate competing values under operational pressure

Develop critical thinking around conflict ethics

Make informed, principled decisions in warfare contexts

Explore the ethical and legal complexities of military conflict. Learn to analyse, evaluate, and resolve moral dilemmas in modern warfare.

Duration: 3 weeks

Skills:
- Decision Making
- Teaching

Curriculum:
- Define ethics, morality, and law in military settings
- Examine how law and ethics work together
- Identify ethical problems in military life
- Distinguish between lawful and ethical actions
- Understand virtue-based ethical decision-making
- Understand consequentialist ethical decision-making
- Understand duty-based ethical decision-making
- Compare key ethical frameworks for military use
- Apply ethical models to real-world dilemmas
- Analyse complex military scenarios using case studies
- Evaluate ethical outcomes of military decisions
- Use ethical triangulation to resolve dilemmas
- Navigate competing values under operational pressure
- Develop critical thinking around conflict ethics

- Make informed, principled decisions in warfare contexts