Theoretical Foundations for Rational Agency in Third Generation Wargames
Abstract
Conflict between groups of armed men is as old as recorded history. Effective reasoning and decision-making are fundamental to the successful execution of military operations. These activities are of paramount importance given the high-stakes nature of conflict; most especially in this modern era of asymmetric threats and conventionally armed rogue states. Yet as high as the stakes are, there does not exist a sufficiently formal military theory of reasoning and decision-making that instantiates modern war-fighting doctrine. Large bodies of knowledge of reasoning and decision-making exist, but they are not integrated, and they (to author knowledge) have not been cast effectively into a military context. Herein, I describe a new theory of military rationality which fully captures the reasoning and decision-making processes of military personnel. The goal of the third generation wargaming effort as the Air Force Research Laboratory's Information Directorate is to produce a high-fidelity simulation of conflict environments in order to facilitate a new brand of highly immersive training for warfighters. I shall briefly highlight the philosophical foundations for the construction of such entities, and the formal techniques by which they may be modeled and engineered.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA451405
Entities
People
- Paul Bello
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory