(MORALITY AND ETHICS [continued(8)])[19th April 1987]

[Redbook3:209-210][19870419:1050f](MORALITY AND ETHICS [continued(8)])[19th April 1987]

19870419.1050

[continued]

The second* implication concerns professional and conscript armies. It has been observed that professional armies are far more 'wieldy' – better trained, better motivated (at least in general peacetime), and quicker to react – than are conscript armies. Basically, it seems likely that professionals, at least in the sort of militar[il]y active peace we have at present, are nowadays tougher, less scrupulous and more aggressive than conscripts in achieving the ends that Governments set for them. This is perhaps because their motivation is to do the job for which they were trained, e.g. fighting, largely by means of killing, as quickly as possible.

Conscript motivation (probably) is generally quite different, being dependent far more upon the general personality and world-view of the conscript(s). It seems likely that the Individual's view of morality is far more likely to be a significant influence in a conscript army than in an experienced professional army.

*[See last previous entry for the first.]

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