Modern Arms and Free Men

work by Bush

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June 30, 2026

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"Modern Arms and Free Men" is a 1949 work by Vannevar Bush. The book serves as a warning against the unchecked militarization of American science, arguing that it could harm economic development. Bush, an American electrical engineer and administrator, played a key role in organizing scientific research for the U.S. during World War II. He was instrumental in the creation of the National Defense Research Committee (NDRC) and the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD), which facilitated large-scale scientific projects like the Manhattan Project.1

Bush's work also reflects broader concerns about technology's impact on society. While technology offers advancements, there are critiques that it can lead to a loss of individuality and freedom. Bush himself expressed concern that the military's growing influence over research could negatively affect the economy and democracy.231

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Vannevar Bush
Disillusionment of Vannevar Bush
…practical politics and political theory, Modern Arms and Free Men, in 1949. Widely discussed and reviewed, the book was Bush’s warning that the militarization of American science would harm the development of the economy. Indeed, Bush’s famous belief that ballistic missiles were not feasible lay as much on moral as…
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…practical politics and political theory, Modern Arms and Free Men, in 1949. Widely discussed and reviewed, the book was Bush’s warning that the militarization of American science would harm the development of the economy. Indeed, Bush’s famous belief that ballistic missiles were not feasible lay as much on moral as…
Read More