Modern Cognitive Warfare: From the Application of Cognitive Science and Technology in the Battlefield to the Arena of Cognitive Warfare

Abstract

Background & Purpose: Revolutionary advances in cognitive science and technology have led mind-brain studies to the novel “brain control and simulation” phase. The development of cognitive science and technology, along with the huge investment of the world’s leading military research institutes in this area, suggest the emergence of a new arena of warfare, which is known as “cognitive warfare”. The present study aims to conduct a logical and conceptual analysis of cognitive warfare and illustrate its conceptual network. Methodology: The study is performed using logical and conceptual analyses. The applied techniques include constructive, detective, and reductive analyses. Findings: The analyses indicate six common logical fallacies in the conceptualization of cognitive warfare: the reduction of cognitive warfare to the psychological level, the reduction of cognitive warfare to cognitive operations, the reduction of cognitive influence to cognitive interference, the reduction of cognitive warfare to cognitive impairment, the reduction of cognitive warfare to military operations, and the reduction of cognitive warfare to application of cognitive science and technology in the battlefield. Each of the mentioned fallacies represents a natural element of cognitive warfare to demonstrate its conceptual network: cognitive warfare science and technology, cognitive warfare based on cognitive theories, the effectiveness of cognitive warfare, cognitive warfare dimensions, the scope of cognitive warfare, and the arena of cognitive warfare. Conclusion: The renaissance of cognitive science and technology highlights the fact that future power and supremacy lies in cognitive superiority and empowerment in the arena of cognitive warfare. Thus, some of the critical measures to be taken in this regard are establishing cognitive science and technology research centers, cognitive defense centers, and cognitive battlefield bases and headquarters. Other essential actions include the training of officers for cognitive warfare, policymaking, legislation, and executive measures and planning for offence and defense in the arena of cognitive warfare

Keywords

• cognitive warfare
• arena of cognitive warfare
• cognitive defense
• cognitive superiority