Military Review English Edition January-February 2015 | Page 94
T
he super soldier is on the way—maybe not toneuroscience, biotechnology, nanotechnology, gemorrow, but soon. As technological inventions
netics, and drugs. According to Patrick Lin, writare changing our society, so will technology rip- ing in The Atlantic about the ethics of enhancing
ple through our battlefields and soldier ethics. Soldier
soldiers, “Soldier enhancements, through biological
enhancement possibilities are often discussed, but less
or technological augmentation of human capabilso are the ethical challenges of the new technologies.
ities, reduce warfighter risk by providing tactical
In the near future, science and technology will offer
advantages over the enemy.”1 Lin describes efforts to
many startling choices to enhance or equip the soldier.
develop a “super-soldier” who can perform more like
Like any innovation in warfare, the Army must discuss
a machine.
the ethics of enhancing soldiers.
Planning must begin on how to