96. LTC Kevin Cutright - Empathy Unleashed: Transforming Military Decision-Making and Operational Effectiveness

The Voices of War

In today's episode, my guest is Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Cutright, a prominent Associate Professor in the Department of English and Philosophy at the US Military Academy, West Point. Kevin's extensive in-the-field experiences have fuelled his exploration into the ethical aspects of military planning and conduct, the role of empathy, and the concept of moral injury. We delve deep into the significance of empathy in military operations, a subject comprehensively covered in Kevin's newly published book, 'The Empathetic Soldier.' Not only relevant but his insights on empathy are also crucial for military personnel and those responsible for making war decisions. During our conversation, we shed light on several pivotal points: - Kevin's military background and experiences. - Benefits of the US Military's academic approach. - Origins of Kevin's interest in empathy. - Defining empathy: challenges and nuances. - Differentiating between etic and emic perceptions of the world. - Role and value of empathy in operational contexts. - Security Force Assistance Brigades: their purpose and capabilities. - Mitigating the potential risks of operational empathy. - Intersection of empathy with the principles of 'Just Cause' and 'Right Intention' in warfare. - Exploring 'Moral Injury': its definition and its ties with empathy. - Methods and significance of empathy training. - Using empathy as an instrument for understanding adversaries, mitigating bias, and enhancing decision-making. - Discussing the critical role of 'strategic empathy.' Join us in this engaging dialogue as we unpack these topics, offering a fresh perspective on empathy's role within the military realm.

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