Teleology and Atomic Bomb

Decision to use the Atomic Bomb

This case study covers the decision to use the atomic bomb. The events leading up to the attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 is recorded from the perspective of Henry L Stimson who answered directly to the President. (Gutmann and Thompson 2006) He was responsible for overseeing the process of creating an atomic weapon. He notes that from his experience all of this was done with the intention of shortening the war and minimizing devastation. (Gutmann and Thompson 2006) One of the questions posed during this process was how the atomic bomb would fit into the national policy. (Gutmann and Thompson 2006) The plan was to practice detonation of an atomic bomb by the summer of 1941 but some were concerned that the bomb bay be a dud or a “lemon”. (Gutmann and Thompson 2006) Some suggested that a special team of scientists who were not connected to the project could verify that the bomb was actually going to detonate. (Gutmann and Thompson 2006)

A committee was appointed who would advise the president on some questions about the bomb once its completion was successful. (Gutmann and Thompson 2006) Before the bomb was used this committee answered ethical questions about where and how it should be used (Gutmann and Thompson 2006) One of the suggestions was that the United States use the bomb as a warning to stop the Japanese. (Gutmann and Thompson 2006) Again the main objective of this committee was to find a way for The United States to induce surrender of the Japanese and end the war sooner. (Gutmann and Thompson 2006) The target cities ware chosen and narrowed down to six targets for possible attack. (Gutmann and Thompson 2006) Hiroshima and Nagasaki were attacked and the Japanese surrendered. (Gutmann and Thompson 2006)

The decisions made by the committee can be viewed from the lens of the Ethics Triangle. Most of the decision to use the atomic bomb to then the war was made with a consequences based approach. From the onset when...