In his latest article, Neil Renic evaluates battlefield mercy in war as a category of supererogation – a meritorious non-duty. The article first considers the inherent tension between supererogatory restraint and other moral duties in war, including the duty of combatants to kill. After highlighting this complexity, the article outlines the factors that commonly motivate battlefield mercy: target vulnerability, empathy, and self-reflection.
The article concludes with analysis of both Special Forces Operations and remote warfare. In both cases, it is argued, our efforts to understand and refine the contemporary battlefield can be enhanced through greater consideration of its supererogatory dimensions
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