Tim McFarland
Papers
1
Total Citations
4
H-Index
1
About
Tim McFarland’s research sits at the critical intersection of international law, ethics, and emerging military technologies, with a particular focus on autonomous weapons systems and artificial intelligence. His most-cited work, “Understanding AI and Autonomy: Problematizing the Meaningful Human Control Argument against Killer Robots” (2021, 4 citations), offers a sophisticated critique of the dominant ethical framework in debates over lethal autonomous systems. Rather than accepting “meaningful human control” as a straightforward solution, McFarland problematizes the concept, revealing how the physical and temporal distance between human operators and autonomous decision-making complicates accountability and legal responsibility. This contribution has helped shape scholarly discourse on how international humanitarian law should adapt to AI-driven warfare. Beyond this paper, McFarland’s broader body of work examines the legal and ethical dimensions of autonomy in conflict, including questions of state responsibility and the application of existing legal frameworks to novel technologies. His rigorous, conceptually clear analyses make him a valuable voice for students and researchers navigating the complex terrain where law, ethics, and military robotics converge.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1