On the Definition of Autonomous Weapon Systems

This article focuses on the ongoing debate on the definition of autonomous weapon systems. This debate is introduced using two approaches to the definition of autonomy: (1) autonomy as the human - machine relation, and (2) autonomy as the complexity of a machine's decision -making capabilities. The aim of the text is to critically review the current state of the debate and analyze the key issues related to each approach to defining autonomous weapons. I argue that in the current discourse, neither of these approaches offer definitions that could become the basis for regulating autonomous weapon systems.