A Philosophy of Gun Violence

By Alan J. Reid

Book Overview

This book uses a philosophy of technology to demonstrate that guns are predisposed for an intentional use, making them inherently non-neutral artifacts. This argument rejects the often-cited value neutral thesis and instrumentalist view that "guns don't kill people; people kill people", and instead, explains the lethality of the gun through the lenses of affordance theory, behavioral design, and choice architecture. Ultimately, this book proposes an ethical and value-sensitive model for gun reform, which embodies the perspective of French philosopher Bruno Latour, who said, "You are different with a gun in your hand; the gun is different with you holding it."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3031110064
• ISBN13: 9783031110061
• Release Date: August 2023
• Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan
• Length: 196 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.8" x 8.3"