Research task. The main aim of this study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the ethical and existential challenges to preserving human values in the era of machine warfare. The objectives include: first, to identify the prerequisites for developing a concept of wartime morality; second, to analyze the features of using autonomous systems and machine decision-making in military contexts; third, to define the ethical and existential issues brought by the automation of war; and fourth, to propose strategies for mitigating the ethical and existential threats to human values in machine warfare. Addressing these objectives necessitates an interdisciplinary approach involving philosophy, ethics, law, technology, and security studies. Main material presentation. In the present era of rapid advancement of autonomous weaponry, artificial intelligence, and unmanned systems, humanity is facing unprecedented moral and philosophical challenges. Armed conflicts are gradually evolving from traditional forms into “machine warfare”, where decisions on the use of force are increasingly made not by humans but by algorithms. This shift in warfare is accompanied by profound changes in the understanding of morality, dignity, and responsibility as key humanistic values. Central to this research is the question of whether it is permissible to delegate life-and-death decisions to technical systems incapable of moral judgment. Also highlighted are issues of emotional detachment, depersonalization of combat, and blurred accountability for acts of violence. These challenges necessitate a philosophical rethinking of the nature of moral choice in the deeply automated context of modern warfare. Conclusions. The conducted analysis shows that machine warfare presents a fundamentally new challenge not only to military strategy but also to the moral structure of human existence. The loss of control over autonomous algorithms poses risks not only of physical destruction but also of moral degradation, threatening the very foundations of dignity, responsibility, and humanity. Under such conditions, preserving human values requires the re-evaluation and adaptation of ethical principles to new technological realities. Overcoming the ethical and existential challenges related to the development of autonomous combat systems demands the creation of new philosophical approaches that integrate technological efficiency with humanistic values. Therefore, ensuring the preservation of human values in technologically transformed warfare requires an interdisciplinary strategy encompassing philosophical, legal, technical, and humanitarian dimensions.
Ruslan Filonenko (Mon,) studied this question.