Essay

Essay on relevance of empathy and imagination on counterterrorism strategies?

0 purchase

Module
Philosophy

Institution
The University Of Warwick (UoW)

An essay which looks in depth at the relevance of empathy and imagination on counterterrorism?

[Show more]

Preview 1 out of 4 pages

View example

Uploaded on May 18, 2021
Number of pages 4
Written in 2020/2021
Type Essay
Professor(s) Unknown
Grade A+

darya111299 Member since 3 year 1 documents sold

What is the relevance, if any, of empathy and imagination for counterterrorism?
Counterterrorism can be described as ‘measures designed to combat or
prevent terrorism’ (Anon., 2020) so anything which assists in combatting or
preventing terrorism should be considered relevant for counterterrorism.
Empathy is thus relevant for counterterrorism, as it provides a way of
understanding what causes terrorist groups to do what they do, and therein,
allows those combatting terrorism to create a strategy, designed to prevent
those causes from re-emerging, and in doing so, stop those same anti-
sentiments resulting in terrible atrocities. Our imaginations are vital for being
empathetic, as it allows us to place ourselves in the situations of others, so we
can form a conception of their sensations. The imagination’s usefulness also
emerges when considering what US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
called ‘unknown unknowns’. When considering things we know that we don’t
know, we can by suitable means of research and questioning find out what we
don’t know. However, when we don’t know what we don’t know, the same
methodology cannot be used. Instead, we must use our imaginations to gain
an understanding of what the unknown may embody. For example, 9/11 may
be considered a ‘failure of imagination’, as US intelligence agencies didn’t
know that they didn’t know that Al-Qaeda could do what they did, the way they
did it (Russell, 2004). However, while imagination can be useful, we will see in
this essay that its capabilities in enlightening us about unknown unknowns are
limited and under certain circumstances detrimental.
Grand counterterrorism strategy has for very long neglected the stories of
terrorists. Instead, national security agencies have pumped billions of dollars
into fighting terrorists on a physical level, focussing mainly on limiting access
to weapons of mass destruction, attacking sponsors of state funded terrorism,
and standard surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance measures. These
responses are short-term, whose effect will only last until another terrorist
group comes along with the same qualms as those before, but with better
funding and technology, and pose the same problems for counterterrorism
strategists as their predecessors did.
Humans are mental entities not governed by any strict laws, which makes
them complex particulars in Gorovitz and Macintyre’s sense. The explanation
of a free man’s actions comes from ‘appeal to his desires, habits, knowledge
and perceptions. Such accounts of intentional behaviour operate in a conceptual
framework removed from the direct reach of physical law’ (Davidson, 2001).
Thus, any counterterrorism strategy must make a determined effort to
understand this framework. Understanding the behaviour and motivations of an
individual terrorist requires getting into one’s head as a means of engaging with
his subjectivity; the best means to this end is empathy. Empathy requires one to
imagine themselves in the place of some other, and in doing so, allows one to
simulate the other’s psychological states, and if done successfully, will allow one
to gain an understanding of the other’s psychological disposition. Such an
understanding can have implications for government foreign policy, especially
for governments in the West. As Quassim Cassam notes, those in favour of the
American invasion and occupation of Iraq shouldn’t have been surprised with the
animosity that greeted their arrival, because if they had part-taken in other-
oriented perspective taking – where one imagines being someone else and
undergoes the other’s experiences - it would be clear how the invasion would

The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.

Quick and easy check-out

You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.

Focus on what matters

Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!

Frequently asked questions

What do I get when I buy this document?

You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.

Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?

Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.

Who am I buying these notes from?

Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller darya111299. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.

Will I be stuck with a subscription?

No, you only buy these notes for £8.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.

Can Stuvia be trusted?

4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)

66391 documents were sold in the last 30 days

Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 15 years now

Start selling

Essay

Essay on relevance of empathy and imagination on counterterrorism strategies?

Document information

Subjects

Written for

Seller

Reviews received

Content preview