Abstract

Abstract Concepts like ?warrior? and ?professional soldier?, denoting the professional combatant, have been scrutinised very closely by military thinkers. Extensive analyses of the interaction and convergence between them, however, are less frequent. This article seeks to emphasise the ethical constraints on the soldier prescribed by both concepts, and the continuity between them. The common ethical traits of the concepts, it is argued, provide useful support when advocating the necessity of normative constraints on military conduct. In particular, such emphasis on continuity is vital in avoiding the artificial and unfortunate image of there being an irresolvable gap between the traditional soldier's role and contemporary military ethics. In short, highlighting the ethical continuity between these two descriptions strengthens the case for ethical commitment as a timeless and unavoidable feature which should be part of any professional combatant's self-perception.