The Philosophy of War

Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum?

War is Integral In War is Integral In Human History Human History

It’s More than An It’s More than An ActAct For SurvivalFor Survival For Self-DefenceFor Self-Defence For Self-For Self-

PromotionPromotion For GainFor Gain

War is a War is a Philosophy!Philosophy!

Like all other Like all other philosophies, philosophies, understanding it understanding it helps to helps to understand understand human nature, human nature, purpose & idealspurpose & ideals

Is It Universal?Is It Universal?

ANCIENT CHINA RENAISSANCE FLORENCE

SUN TZU: 722–481 BC? MACHIAVELLI 1469-1527

Served the Served the Emperor of WuEmperor of Wu

Bing FaBing Fa, 403–221 , 403–221 BC?BC?

Multiple Multiple Authorship, Sun Authorship, Sun Bin his grandsonBin his grandson

Similar to an Similar to an Aristotelian ManualAristotelian Manual

Served the Medici Served the Medici of Florenceof Florence

Dell'arte della Dell'arte della guerra, 1520guerra, 1520

Single AuthorSingle Author Similar to a Similar to a

Socratic Dialogue Socratic Dialogue by Platoby Plato

WARRING STATESFLORENTINE RENAISSANCE

Opportunity to Opportunity to Unite Fragmented Unite Fragmented KingdomsKingdoms

Educate Generals Educate Generals Who Will Recruit, Who Will Recruit, Discipline & Lead Discipline & Lead Field Officers & Field Officers & SoldiersSoldiers

Influenced Mao tse Influenced Mao tse tung & Ho Chih Minhtung & Ho Chih Minh

Dependence on Dependence on Condotieri Condotieri MercenariesMercenaries

Cultivate Local Cultivate Local Army Trained in the Army Trained in the Tradition of Roman Tradition of Roman LegionsLegions

Influenced Napoleon Influenced Napoleon Bonaparte, Carl Von Bonaparte, Carl Von ClausewitzClausewitz

Use of Aphorisms & AnecdotesUse of Aphorisms & Anecdotes Zoom Perspectives: Strategic Zoom Perspectives: Strategic

(Macro/Campaign) & Tactical (Macro/Campaign) & Tactical (Micro/Battles)(Micro/Battles)

All Is Fair in War but only to the All Is Fair in War but only to the VictorVictor

Peace is still the ideal, just as long Peace is still the ideal, just as long as it isn’t the peace of our grave but as it isn’t the peace of our grave but those of the enemy. those of the enemy.

Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum.Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum.

THIRTEEN CHAPTERS SEVEN BOOKS

I. The Calculations I. The Calculations II. The Challenge II. The Challenge III. The Plan of Attack III. The Plan of Attack IV. Positioning IV. Positioning V. Directing V. Directing VI. Illusion and Reality VI. Illusion and Reality VII. Engaging The Force VII. Engaging The Force VIII. The Nine Variations VIII. The Nine Variations IX. Moving The Force IX. Moving The Force X. Situational Positioning X. Situational Positioning XI. The Nine Situations XI. The Nine Situations XII. The Fiery Attack XII. The Fiery Attack XIII. The Use of XIII. The Use of

Intelligence Intelligence

PrefacePreface First BookFirst Book Second BookSecond Book Third BookThird Book Fourth BookFourth Book Fifth BookFifth Book Sixth BookSixth Book Seventh BookSeventh Book AppendixAppendix

SUN TZU SAYS: MACHIAVELLI SAYS:

The art of war is of The art of war is of vital importance to vital importance to the State. It is a the State. It is a matter of life and matter of life and death, a road death, a road either to safety or either to safety or to ruinto ruin

Knowing how to Knowing how to fight made men fight made men more bold, because more bold, because no one fears doing no one fears doing what it seems to him what it seems to him he has learned to do. he has learned to do. Therefore, the Therefore, the ancients wanted ancients wanted their citizens to be their citizens to be trained in every trained in every warlike action.warlike action.

POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY

ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY

MandateMandate MotivesMotives MessageMessage ManpowerManpower

MinutesMinutes MethodsMethods MeansMeans MoneyMoney

Victory = Destiny. Right Is MightVictory = Destiny. Right Is Might Rhetoric of Justice & VirtueRhetoric of Justice & Virtue Call for Sacrifice; Command & Call for Sacrifice; Command &

ControlControl Leadership Displays Sincerity & Leadership Displays Sincerity &

ConsistencyConsistency

SUN TZU SAYS MACHIAVELLI SAYS

Confront your people Confront your people with annihilation, with annihilation, and they will then and they will then survive; plunge them survive; plunge them into a deadly into a deadly situation, and they situation, and they will then live. When will then live. When people fall into people fall into danger, they are danger, they are then able to strive then able to strive for victory. for victory.

A battle that you A battle that you win cancels any win cancels any other bad action of other bad action of yours. In the same yours. In the same way, by losing way, by losing one, all the good one, all the good things worked by things worked by you before become you before become vain. vain.

Expound on Rhetoric vs. Hide the Expound on Rhetoric vs. Hide the UlteriorUlterior

Sovereign & Subjects Must Be In Sovereign & Subjects Must Be In HarmonyHarmony

Clear “Official” Purpose: Clear “Official” Purpose: Defence from Hostility; Defence from Hostility; Advantageous Enforcement of Treaty; Advantageous Enforcement of Treaty; ConquestConquest

Right Understanding of the EnemyRight Understanding of the Enemy Neither underestimate nor overestimateNeither underestimate nor overestimate

SUN TZU: MACHIAVELLI:

For the nation to For the nation to perceive the perceive the advantage of advantage of defeating the enemy, defeating the enemy, they must also have they must also have their rewards.their rewards.

One bushel of the One bushel of the enemy's provisions is enemy's provisions is worth twenty of our worth twenty of our own ... taking the own ... taking the enemy's wealth is a enemy's wealth is a matter of reward. matter of reward.

Necessities can be Necessities can be many, but the one many, but the one that is stronger is that is stronger is that which that which constrains you to constrains you to win or to die.win or to die.

Since the handling Since the handling of arms is a of arms is a beautiful spectacle, beautiful spectacle, it is delightful to it is delightful to young men.young men.

Machinery; Technology; Logistics; Machinery; Technology; Logistics; MaterialsMaterials

Build & Preserve a Position of Build & Preserve a Position of AdvantageAdvantage

Efficiency & Effectiveness Are Efficiency & Effectiveness Are Measures of ValueMeasures of Value

Commandeer the Enemy’s Resources Commandeer the Enemy’s Resources &/or Destroy Them&/or Destroy Them


A nation can be A nation can be impoverished by the impoverished by the army when it has to army when it has to supply the army at supply the army at great distances ... great distances ... Therefore, a wise Therefore, a wise general will strive general will strive to feed off the to feed off the enemy. enemy.

Opportunities Opportunities multiply as they are multiply as they are seized. seized.

What benefits the What benefits the enemy harms you enemy harms you & what benefits & what benefits you harms the you harms the enemy.enemy.

It is better to It is better to defeat the enemy defeat the enemy by hunger than by by hunger than by steel.steel.

Spend You Own Funds Sparingly; Spend You Own Funds Sparingly; Steal When There Is OpportunitySteal When There Is Opportunity

Use What Is Readily Available Than Use What Is Readily Available Than to Wait For What You Needto Wait For What You Need

Pass On the Cost to the Vanquished: Pass On the Cost to the Vanquished: Sequestration; Reparations & Sequestration; Reparations & RansomRansom


He who wishes to fight He who wishes to fight must first count the cost. must first count the cost.

Many calculations lead to Many calculations lead to victory, & few victory, & few calculations to defeat: calculations to defeat: how much more no how much more no calculations at all?calculations at all?

When you plunder the When you plunder the countryside, divide the countryside, divide the wealth among your wealth among your troops; when you expand troops; when you expand your territory, divide up your territory, divide up and hold places of and hold places of advantage.advantage.

Present wars impoverish Present wars impoverish the lords that win as the lords that win as much as those that lose.much as those that lose.

Men, steel, money & Men, steel, money & bread are the sinews of bread are the sinews of war; but of these four, war; but of these four, the first two are more the first two are more necessary, for men and necessary, for men and steel find money and steel find money and bread, but money and bread, but money and bread do not find men bread do not find men and steel. and steel.

War makes thieves, and War makes thieves, and peace hangs them.peace hangs them.

Schedules , Timetables & Past Schedules , Timetables & Past RecordsRecords

Swiftness & Economy Determine Swiftness & Economy Determine VictoryVictory

Delays & Protracted Wars Are Delays & Protracted Wars Are Technical DefeatsTechnical Defeats

Learn from History Or Commit the Learn from History Or Commit the Same, If Not Worse, MistakesSame, If Not Worse, Mistakes


Whoever is first in Whoever is first in the field and awaits the field and awaits the coming of the the coming of the enemy, will be fresh enemy, will be fresh for the fight; for the fight; whoever is second whoever is second in the field and has in the field and has to hasten to battle to hasten to battle will arrive will arrive exhaustedexhausted

When doing battle, When doing battle, seek a quick victory. seek a quick victory.

New & speedy things New & speedy things frighten armies, while frighten armies, while the customary and the customary and slow things are slow things are esteemed little by esteemed little by them: them:

Good captains never Good captains never come to an come to an engagement unless engagement unless necessity compels necessity compels them, or the them, or the opportunity calls opportunity calls them. them.

Movements; FormationsMovements; Formations Wars Are Fought Using IllusionWars Are Fought Using Illusion Surprise The Enemy & Be Surprise The Enemy & Be

UnpredictableUnpredictable Discipline Is Essential to Overcome Discipline Is Essential to Overcome

Limits Limits


Strategy without Strategy without tactics is the tactics is the slowest route to slowest route to victory. Tactics victory. Tactics without strategy is without strategy is the noise before the noise before defeat.defeat.

Warfare is the Way Warfare is the Way of deception.of deception.

In war, discipline can In war, discipline can do more than fury.do more than fury.

To know in war how to To know in war how to recognize an recognize an opportunity and seize opportunity and seize it is better than it is better than anything else.anything else.

There is nothing as There is nothing as likely to succeed as likely to succeed as what the enemy what the enemy believes you cannot believes you cannot attempt.attempt.

Officers; Rank & FileOfficers; Rank & File Discipline & Morale Begins with the Discipline & Morale Begins with the

LeaderLeader Use Your Casualties to Inspire; Kill Use Your Casualties to Inspire; Kill

DesertersDeserters If You Can’t Befriend the Enemy, If You Can’t Befriend the Enemy,

Make Them Fear YouMake Them Fear You


The general who The general who advances without advances without coveting fame & retreats coveting fame & retreats without fearing disgrace, without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to whose only thought is to protect his country & do protect his country & do good service for his good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom.the kingdom.

Regard your soldiers as Regard your soldiers as your children, and they your children, and they will follow you into the will follow you into the deepest valleys. Look on deepest valleys. Look on them as your own them as your own beloved sons, and they beloved sons, and they will stand by you even will stand by you even unto death!unto death!

Nature creates few men Nature creates few men brave; industry and brave; industry and training make many.training make many.

When soldiers are When soldiers are confined to their confined to their quarters, they are kept quarters, they are kept there by fear or there by fear or punishment; then when punishment; then when they are led by war, they are led by war, through hope and through hope and reward.reward.

The forces of adversaries The forces of adversaries are more diminished by are more diminished by the loss of those who flee the loss of those who flee than of those who are than of those who are killed.killed.

Know Yourself & the Enemy but Keep Know Yourself & the Enemy but Keep Your Cards Close to Your Chest.Your Cards Close to Your Chest.

Do not Rely on Luck, Signs & Do not Rely on Luck, Signs & Superstitions, except for Superstitions, except for PropagandaPropaganda

Plant Information That Is Irrelevant, Plant Information That Is Irrelevant, Confusing or, Better Still, Deceiving Confusing or, Better Still, Deceiving to the Enemyto the Enemy

Correct Reconnaissance & Espionage Correct Reconnaissance & Espionage Is the Most Valuable ResourceIs the Most Valuable Resource


Generally, commanding of Generally, commanding of many is like commanding many is like commanding of a few. It is a matter of of a few. It is a matter of dividing them into groups dividing them into groups ... of communications ... of communications through flags and through flags and pennants. pennants.

What enables the What enables the enlightened rulers and enlightened rulers and good generals to conquer good generals to conquer the enemy at every move the enemy at every move and achieve and achieve extraordinary success is extraordinary success is foreknowledge ... foreknowledge ... obtained from people obtained from people who have knowledge of who have knowledge of the enemy's situation.the enemy's situation.

Act so your enemies do Act so your enemies do not know how you want not know how you want to organize your army for to organize your army for battle, and in whatever battle, and in whatever way you organize them, way you organize them, arrange it so that the first arrange it so that the first line can be received by line can be received by the second and by the the second and by the thirdthird

Never lead your soldiers Never lead your soldiers to battle if you have not to battle if you have not first confirmed their spirit first confirmed their spirit and known them to be and known them to be without fear and ordered; without fear and ordered; and never test them and never test them except when you see that except when you see that they hope to win.they hope to win.


Generally in warfare, Generally in warfare, keeping a nation intact keeping a nation intact is best, destroying a is best, destroying a nation second best; nation second best; keeping an army intact keeping an army intact is best, destroying an is best, destroying an army second best ...army second best ...

Therefore, to gain a Therefore, to gain a hundred victories in a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not hundred battles is not the highest excellence; the highest excellence; to subjugate the to subjugate the enemy's army without enemy's army without doing battle is the doing battle is the highest of excellencehighest of excellence

... if a King does not organize ... if a King does not organize himself in such a way that his himself in such a way that his infantry in time of peace are infantry in time of peace are content to return to their content to return to their homes & live from the homes & live from the practice of their own practice of their own professions ... for there is not professions ... for there is not to be found a more to be found a more dangerous infantry ...who dangerous infantry ...who make the waging of war their make the waging of war their profession; for you are forced profession; for you are forced to make war always, or pay to make war always, or pay them always, or to risk the them always, or to risk the danger that they take away danger that they take away the Kingdom from you. the Kingdom from you.

What is Hell?What is Hell? What Is Heaven?What Is Heaven? What is War?What is War? What Is Peace? What Is Peace? Peace Is Not the Peace Is Not the

Absence of War Absence of War but Understanding but Understanding One’s Violent One’s Violent Nature & Nature & Appropriately Appropriately Responding to ItResponding to It

A Young Tribal A Young Tribal Chief’s Dilemma of Chief’s Dilemma of Warriorship & Warriorship & SagelinessSageliness

The epitome of the The epitome of the internal conflict of internal conflict of pursuing serenity pursuing serenity or satisfactionor satisfaction

The personal The personal choice of which to choice of which to feed & nurturefeed & nurture

Knowing when, why & how youKnowing when, why & how you prove your superiority ...prove your superiority ... assert your will & lifestyle ...assert your will & lifestyle ... exploit another’s weakness ...exploit another’s weakness ... deal with a threat ... deal with a threat ...

... means you have a philosophy of ... means you have a philosophy of war.war.

Know it well & know how to find Know it well & know how to find peace as well.peace as well.

The Philosophy of War

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