The War Channel: Propositions on the Substitutability of Technology for Will
Abstract
Every student of military matters is familiar with a construct described by Karl von Clausewitz, military philosopher of the 19% century. His universe of war is bounded and defined by a "paradoxical trinity" - primordial violence and passion (people) war subordinated to policy and subject to policy and reason (government), and chance and probability influenced by creativity (military). Linked by a mutual interchange of exertions of will, each influences and is in turn influenced by the other two aspects. The purpose of this essay is to put forward several propositions which, taken together, suggest that technology has become the near complete but largely imperfect substitute for will as the linkage among the people, the government and the military. If true, this phenomenon bears great consequence for military operations. If untrue, it may become true at a later date. This essay assumes that Clausewitz' metaphor is accurate, enduring, and sufficiently descriptive. The essay further assumes that the metaphor is being altered by the intrusion of manifested technology. This change moves along a trendline. The logical end of the line is a distortion of the conduct of war well beyond historical recognition.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA442414
Entities
People
- Michael D. Murphy
Organizations
- National War College