In Warfare, Humans Are the Soldiers of Narrative

By “narrative,” in this context, I am referring to the stories we tell ourselves about who we are, how we got here, and why such things matter. Narrative defines the boundaries of identity and provides our sense of self-worth and purpose. It also defines the enemy.

When we enter a war, we may think we’re fighting over dirt or oil but ultimately we are defending a version of Truth. Truth may be framed as the superiority of a system of government, the purity of a faith, or the necessity of revolution, but ultimately it is larger than any of these subplots. It is the novel as a whole.

We imagine ourselves the masters of our destiny, the authors of our convictions. In reality we are the agents of our narratives. We do not use the story; the story uses us. We offer our lives to serve the story. Our narrative also provides the psychological armor that allows us to commit atrocities while maintaining our morally righteous self-image.

The blood we spill in turn becomes part of the story, adding plot strands of debt and honor. Sacrifice, suffering, and loss – the stuff of great novels – only strengthen our devotion.

With the advent of digital truths and information bubbles, we’re experiencing a new twist on this most ancient of human endeavors. In our new age of cognitive warfare, narratives are no longer merely inherited; they are engineered, precision-tooled to enhance biases and grievances.

In this new environment, our devotion might be weaponized against us. Perhaps the greatest risk of all is that in the quest to defend our narrative, we become the most effective tools for its erasure.