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Pres. Eisenhower gives dire warning: 'We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether saught or unsaught by the Military Industrial Comp

Pres. Eisenhower gives dire warning: 'We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether saught or unsaught by the Military Industrial Complex' (Jan. 17, 1961) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y06NSBBRtY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y06NSBBRtY

deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
jobu 11y ago
Most people view the term "Military Industrial Complex" from the view of the primary definition of complex - "consisting of many different and connected parts". It seems however, that Eisenhower intended that phrase to use the psychoanalytic definition of complex - "a related group of emotionally significant ideas that are completely or partly repressed and that cause psychic conflict leading to abnormal mental states or behavior". More of a dysfunctional mental state of the nation than an actual physical interaction.
- klenwell 11y ago
  It seems to me the two complexes reinforce one another. Something akin to Sinclair's observation: "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his job depends on not understanding it." But that is in interesting point that you make. I had never considered it from that angle before. Works either way for me. And even better together. Eisenhower: America's Derrida.
- rl3 11y ago
  >It seems however, that Eisenhower intended that phrase to use the psychoanalytic definition of complex ... No, he did not. [1] While that's certainly an interesting thought as well as a unique angle, nothing I can find suggests that it was his intent. Moreover, the usage of the term in context of the speech itself is evidence enough: "In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex." [2] Eisenhower clearly used the term as if it were a concrete entity, not as an abstract reference to a psychiatric state. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military%E2%80%93industrial_complex#Etymology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military%E2%80%93industrial_com... [2] http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/research/online_documents/farewell_address/Reading_Copy.pdf http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/research/online_documents...

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

jobu 11y ago

Most people view the term "Military Industrial Complex" from the view of the primary definition of complex - "consisting of many different and connected parts". It seems however, that Eisenhower intended that phrase to use the psychoanalytic definition of complex - "a related group of emotionally significant ideas that are completely or partly repressed and that cause psychic conflict leading to abnormal mental states or behavior". More of a dysfunctional mental state of the nation than an actual physical interaction.

klenwell 11y ago
It seems to me the two complexes reinforce one another. Something akin to Sinclair's observation: "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his job depends on not understanding it." But that is in interesting point that you make. I had never considered it from that angle before. Works either way for me. And even better together. Eisenhower: America's Derrida.
rl3 11y ago
>It seems however, that Eisenhower intended that phrase to use the psychoanalytic definition of complex ... No, he did not. [1] While that's certainly an interesting thought as well as a unique angle, nothing I can find suggests that it was his intent. Moreover, the usage of the term in context of the speech itself is evidence enough: "In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex." [2] Eisenhower clearly used the term as if it were a concrete entity, not as an abstract reference to a psychiatric state. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military%E2%80%93industrial_complex#Etymology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military%E2%80%93industrial_com... [2] http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/research/online_documents/farewell_address/Reading_Copy.pdf http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/research/online_documents...