THE PRACTICE OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF SOF ETHICS

U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) are under scrutiny for ethical misdeeds. Are there philosophical insights that can illuminate some of the challenges that SOF is facing? In this work, we determine if SOF is a practice as set forth by Alasdair MacIntyre. A practice is a robust field of human endeavor that develops internal tradition and contains an internal and external dialogue. It constitutes a field of potential excellence. Inherent within the concept of a practice is the idea of an internal critical dialogue and the development of traditions and narratives. For MacIntyre, the concept of a practice is fundamental to understanding the virtues, and by extension, human flourishing in a modern context. Understanding the goods and excellence inherent to a practice informs moral reasoning as it is relevant to the practice. We explore how the idea of practice in MacIntyre's theory can help in understanding military ethics in a SOF context. If SOF meet the requirements of a practice, what are the conclusions that can be drawn in terms of understanding SOF professional ethics? And what aspects of the traditions and narratives of U.S. SOF foster or inhibit flourishing? An examination of the narrative and traditions of SOF reveals that underlying ideas about what it means to be a member of the SOF community—which is founded on ideals of selecting, assessing, and sustaining a certain kind of person—are at the heart of the ethical challenges.http://archive.org/details/thepracticeofspe1094563991Outstanding ThesisMajor, United States ArmyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited