Editing Deterrence theory (section)

===Ethical objections===
In the post [[cold war]] era, philosophical objections to the reliance upon deterrence theories in general have also been raised on purely [[ethical]] grounds. Scholars such as [[Robert L. Holmes]] have noted that the implementation of such theories is inconsistent with a fundamental [[deontological]] presumption which prohibits the killing of innocent life. Consequently, such theories are [[prima facie]] immoral in nature. In addition, he observes that deterrence theories serve to perpetuate a state of mutual assured destruction between nations over time. Holmes further argues that it is therefore both irrational and immoral to utilize a methodology for perpetuating international peace which relies exclusively upon the continuous development of new iterations of the very weapons which it is designed to prohibit.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Meyers |first=Diana T. |date=1992 |title=Reviewed work: On War and Morality, Robert L. Holmes |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/2185583.pdf |journal=The Philosophical Review |volume=101 |issue=2 |pages=481–484 |doi=10.2307/2185583 |jstor=2185583}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rock |first=Stephen R. |date=1989 |title=Reviewed work: On War and Morality, Robert L. Holmes; Paths to Peace: Exploring the Feasibility of Sustainable Peace, Richard Smoke, Willis Harman |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/1961738.pdf |journal=The American Political Science Review |volume=83 |issue=4 |pages=1447–1448 |doi=10.2307/1961738 |jstor=1961738}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lee |first=Steven |date=1992 |title=Reviewed work: On War and Morality., Robert L. Holmes |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/2216042.pdf |journal=Noûs |volume=26 |issue=4 |pages=559–562 |doi=10.2307/2216042 |jstor=2216042}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Holmes |first=Robert L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TBoABAAAQBAJ&q=Robert+L.+Holms |title=On War and Morality |date=14 July 2014 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-1-4008-6014-2}}</ref>