Course syllabus Tactical and Ethical Aspects of Autonomous Systems
Swedish name: Taktiska och etiska aspekter på autonoma system
Course code:
2FS036
Valid from semester:
Autumn Term 2023
Education cycle:
Second cycle
Scope:
7.5 credits
Progression:
A1N
Grading scale:
Three-grade scale
Main field of study:
Systems Science for Defence and Security
Department:
Department of Systems Science for Defence and Security
Subject:
Systems Science for Defence and Security
Language of instruction:
The teaching is conducted in English.
Decided by:
Forsknings- och utbildningsnämndens kursplaneutskott (KUS)
Decision date:
2022-08-23
Entry requirements
Passed courses of at least 180 credits that include
and knowledge corresponding to English 6 (English B).
- at least 7,5 credits in the field of Defence, Crisis management and Security,
- written thesis project including of at least 15 credits
and knowledge corresponding to English 6 (English B).
Course content and structure
The purpose of the course is to deepen the understanding of ethical and tactical aspects on the use and design of autonomous systems in the context of defence and security. The course cover the following areas:
Autonomous systems in military operations – ethics and tactics, overall. What exists, overall on ethical and tactical issues regarding these and future autonomous systems. This includes the debate on autonomous systems, including the UN discussions on a ban. These provide a basis for the ability to describe and categorize ethical and tactical problems linked to autonomous systems.
Tactics and autonomy definitions: Conceptual analysis linked to tactics and autonomy: conceptual analysis and philosophy linked to autonomous systems in military use including definitions in general as well as definitions of autonomy and tactics. These provide a basis for the ability to analyse and argue for different positions in related to tactical and ethical aspects of autonomous systems.
Technology and tactics. The impact of technology on tactics in general and autonomous systems linked to military capability.
Autonomous systems and control (command and control): the human being in the decision loop, meaningful human control, the influence of autonomous systems on tactics in terms of control. This provides a basis for the ability to evaluate arguments in the debate.
Tactical competence and the moral agent (moral agency). Linked to autonomous systems and practical wisdom: How Aristotle’s idea of virtues and practical wisdom can contribute to the understanding of tactical competence.
Type of Instruction
The overall idea is that the students familiarize themselves with the debate, delve into the problems, analyse and evaluate, in order to put the building main blocks together.
Autonomous systems in military operations – ethics and tactics, overall. What exists, overall on ethical and tactical issues regarding these and future autonomous systems. This includes the debate on autonomous systems, including the UN discussions on a ban. These provide a basis for the ability to describe and categorize ethical and tactical problems linked to autonomous systems.
Tactics and autonomy definitions: Conceptual analysis linked to tactics and autonomy: conceptual analysis and philosophy linked to autonomous systems in military use including definitions in general as well as definitions of autonomy and tactics. These provide a basis for the ability to analyse and argue for different positions in related to tactical and ethical aspects of autonomous systems.
Technology and tactics. The impact of technology on tactics in general and autonomous systems linked to military capability.
Autonomous systems and control (command and control): the human being in the decision loop, meaningful human control, the influence of autonomous systems on tactics in terms of control. This provides a basis for the ability to evaluate arguments in the debate.
Tactical competence and the moral agent (moral agency). Linked to autonomous systems and practical wisdom: How Aristotle’s idea of virtues and practical wisdom can contribute to the understanding of tactical competence.
Type of Instruction
- Lectures
- Seminars
The overall idea is that the students familiarize themselves with the debate, delve into the problems, analyse and evaluate, in order to put the building main blocks together.
Objectives
After completing the course, the student is expected to be able to:
Knowledge and understanding:
Competence and skills
Evaluation abilities and approach
Knowledge and understanding:
- Describe and categorize tactical and ethical aspects of the use of autonomous systems.
Competence and skills
- Analyze and argue for different positions regarding tactical and ethical aspects of autonomous systems.
Evaluation abilities and approach
- Evaluate arguments in the debate on tactical and ethical aspects of autonomous systems.
- Apply a critical scientific approach to problematize the relationship between professional practice and science.
Examination formats
The course is examined through a written unsupervised assignment.
The examiner may decide that supplementary work is required in order for a pass grade to be achieved.
Examination papers submitted late will not be graded, unless there are special reasons, which have been approved by the examiner.
Supplementary assignments are to be submitted no later than five working days after the notification of results and the supplementary assignment for the examination in question, unless there are special reasons, which have been approved by the examiner.
Grading
Grades are set according to a three-grade scale: Pass with destinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).
A pass (G) requires a pass (G) for the written unsupervised assignment.
A pass with destinction (VG) requires a pass with destinction (VG) for the written unsupervised assignment.
Restrictions in number of examinations
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.
The examiner may decide that supplementary work is required in order for a pass grade to be achieved.
Examination papers submitted late will not be graded, unless there are special reasons, which have been approved by the examiner.
Supplementary assignments are to be submitted no later than five working days after the notification of results and the supplementary assignment for the examination in question, unless there are special reasons, which have been approved by the examiner.
Grading
Grades are set according to a three-grade scale: Pass with destinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).
A pass (G) requires a pass (G) for the written unsupervised assignment.
A pass with destinction (VG) requires a pass with destinction (VG) for the written unsupervised assignment.
Restrictions in number of examinations
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.
Transitional provisions
When a course is no longer provided or when the content of a course has been significantly altered, the student/participant retains the right to be examined in accordance with this course syllabus once per term during a three-term period.
Other regulations
The course cannot be included in a degree with another course whose content fully or partially corresponds to the content of this course.
On the completion of the course, an evaluation will be conducted under the auspices of the course director, which will form the basis for any changes to the course.
If the student has a decision from the Swedish Defence University stating the need for extra pedagogical support because of a functional disability, the examiner may decide on alternative examination forms for the student.
This is an edited version of the syllabus, created to transfer the original to the education database Ladok education planning. For originals, refer to the archive.
On the completion of the course, an evaluation will be conducted under the auspices of the course director, which will form the basis for any changes to the course.
If the student has a decision from the Swedish Defence University stating the need for extra pedagogical support because of a functional disability, the examiner may decide on alternative examination forms for the student.
This is an edited version of the syllabus, created to transfer the original to the education database Ladok education planning. For originals, refer to the archive.