Are Military Professionals Bound by a Higher Moral Standard?

Abstract

Many people, both in and out of the military, believe that military professionals are bound by a higher moral standard. What, exactly, might this mean? And do we have good reasons for thinking military professionals are so bound? In this article, the author explores the various ways we might elucidate the meaning of a higher moral standard and examine the available justifications for being bound by one. I conclude that there are some scenarios in which the military professional is bound by a higher moral standard, but point out that at least one commonly understood version of the claim goes too far. There are limits to the higher moral standards we can justifiably think bind the military professional.