Sun Tzu Today and Tomorrow
Abstract
"War is a matter of vital importance to the state; the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied." "What is the use of such feeble maxims?" asks Clausewitz. It is hard to see at first why Sun Tzu bothered to state this obvious, even instinctual principle. On the surface, it appears to be a statement of the author's intent in compiling the maxims that comprise The Art of War, as well as a literary flourish designed to highlight the work's importance. But it is more than that. To paraphrase in less elegant terms: war in itself is neither bad nor good, cheng nor ch'i, though it assumes each aspect at different times and perspectives. Used properly, it is a desirable tool of statecraft which offers gain. Used haphazardly -- presumably by those who have not "thoroughly studied" it -- it pulls the state to disaster. The critical period in war, according to Sun Tzu, is before the first shot is fired. The critical activity in war is the estimate of opposing forces. Thus the critical decision in warfare is the first one -- whether to give battle. The principal problem that we as a nation face is in striking this balance, in adapting war to use as a tool of statecraft. Common sense tells us that in an age of nuclear weaponry, war is too destructive an enterprise to enter upon voluntarily. Yet common practice confronts us every year with the need to use force, and perhaps take that first step down the path to nuclear war.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 09, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA440743
Entities
People
- Steve Mann
Organizations
- National War College