The Existential Risks of Nuclear Weapons: A Role for Ethics and Emotions

The risk of nuclear weapons is an important topic that does not get sufficient attention in the philosophy of technology. There are and have been some discussions about the ethics of nuclear weapons, but most of them are from non-philosophers. Indeed, it is surprising —and worrisome—that the discussion of nuclear weapons in the philosophy of technology is virtually nonexistent. A noteworthy recent exception is Haiden ( 2026 ). In this contribution, I will reflect on some of the topics brought up in Haiden’s important contribution. I will also highlight some additional ethical issues related to nuclear weapons, specifically related to the context of existential risk and the role of moral emotions.