ABSTRACT
The major purpose of devising defense policy is to avoid such a war. The study of defense policy is at once fascinating and terrible. Simple moral judgments have a way of eluding one’s grasp in the realm of defense policy. The study of defense policy brings one back to the most fundamental questions of social life. The chapter argues that the nature of the problem — preventing or recuperating from nuclear war—helps generate consequences which go far beyond the original subject matter. The enormous threat posed to the entire society by the specter of nuclear war strongly suggests that all sorts of improbable situations must be taken into account. Simple moral judgments have a way of eluding one’s grasp in the realm of defense policy. As the policy orientation of the defense analysts increases, their devotion to theory decreases. Despite the lack of a whole theory defense policy is evidently based on deterrence.
