The Enlightened Warrior: Applying Reason and Critical Thinking in Special Forces
by David Maxwell
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08.18.2025 at 06:00am
The Enlightened Warrior: Applying Reason and Critical Thinking in Special Forces Image
Enlightenment values of reason and critical thinking are essential for Special Forces operators to effectively analyze complex situations and make sound decisions in the field.
In an era marked by complexity, ambiguity, and persistent threats in the gray zone of conflict, the modern Special Forces operator must be more than a warrior, he must be an Enlightened Warrior. Drawing from the philosophical legacy of the Enlightenment and thinkers such as Locke, Kant, and Camus, the Special Forces soldier embodies a rare fusion of tactician, strategist, philosopher, and statesman. This essay argues that Enlightenment values, especially reason, critical thinking, and the pursuit of human dignity, are not only relevant but essential to the modern Special Forces (SF) practitioner, particularly within the realms of irregular warfare, unconventional warfare, and political warfare.
The Enlightenment and the Warrior Ethos
The Enlightenment, often called the Age of Reason, championed the capacity of human beings to think for themselves. Immanuel Kant famously described it as “man’s emergence from his self-incurred immaturity,” which he defined as “the inability to use one’s understanding without the guidance of another.” For the Special Forces soldier, this ethos of independent thinking is fundamental. Operating in austere environments, often with incomplete information and high political stakes, SF personnel must rely on their capacity for reasoned judgment and moral clarity.
The SF soldier is “a Locke-ian liberal, a Burke-ian conservative, and a Stoic pragmatist,” reflecting a nuanced blend of tradition and critical inquiry. Enlightenment values provide the intellectual framework for this synthesis. The ability to question assumptions, challenge dominant narratives, and think dialectically is not just a philosophical luxury; it is a tactical and strategic necessity.
The Philosophical Warrior: Locke and Kant in the Field
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2025/08/18/enlightened-warrior-special-forces/
