Nuclear Weapons

Nuclear Weapons

Weapons that release energy through nuclear reactions, posing significant ethical and existential risks.

Manhattan Project

A government-led scientific endeavor during World War II that developed the first nuclear weapons.

Mutually Assured Destruction

A military strategy where two or more opposing sides would cause the total annihilation of both the attacker and the defender.

Nuclear Umbrella

Policies where a nuclear power extends protection to its allies by using its own nuclear arsenal.

Utilitarian Argument

A justification for an action based on its outcome; in the context of nuclear weapons, the claim that their use saved lives by ending wars swiftly.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

An international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Deterrence

The strategy of preventing conflict by maintaining a credible threat of severe retaliation.

Ethical Dilemmas

Complex situations where moral principles may conflict, particularly regarding the use of nuclear weapons.

Totalitarianism

A political system in which the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.

Technological Governance

The framework within which governments regulate and oversee scientific and technological advancements.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Japanese cities where atomic bombs were dropped in 1945, resulting in immense loss of life and raising ethical concerns about nuclear weapons.

Global Annihilation

The total destruction of human life or civilization, often cited in discussions about nuclear war.

Bipartisan Support

Political agreement and cooperation between two major political parties, relevant in the context of nuclear arms policies.

International Cooperation

Collaboration between nations to manage global issues, particularly in the context of nuclear arms control.