This 6 page report discusses a scenario in which “Hester,” a member of the Air Force makes the decision that she will not become a bomber pilot. Her argument is that in past wars, bomber crews have often been called on to drop bombs on targets that were of questionable military value and destructive of the lives of civilians. She argues that she cannot violate the right to life of noncombatants. The philosophy of Soren Kierkegaard is used in her defense. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
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part of the armed forces he or she has also made the choice to follow the orders they are given. In fact, in World War I, a British soldier could
be shot for refusing an order. Conscientious objectors were interned in work camps in World War II. However, it should also be noted that the principle that an individual may
be bound by a higher moral authority, beyond what the statutes or a military code of obedience provide, was established in Germany decades ago, during trials of former Nazi leaders.
More recently, atrocities such as some committed in Vietnam or by "graduates" of the U.S. Armys School of the Americas demonstrate the important role of the conscience of individual
soldiers. However, Hesters decision to not be a bomber pilot for the Air Force presents several unique areas for consideration. For example, she is assuming that she will be
able to determine which of the locations she is assigned to bomb may result in non-combatant casualties. She also appears to be either forgetting or denying her oath of loyalty
when she joined the military. Has Hester experienced some sort of a crisis in conscience in which she realizes the impact of her actions as an individual and as a
member of the military? Or is there a different moral principle at play? Only Hester can say for sure. But having made the statement that she does not want to
be a bomber pilot she must choose to stick with her decision and whatever ramifications of making that decision. Set against the moral complexities is the simple truth that Hester
is right. She has no way of knowing whether or not her piloting a bombing aircraft will result only in the destruction of military targets. Having made her decision, she
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