"The Art of War"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how in "The Art of War", Sun Tzu, a 6th century B.C. Chinese general, discusses his philosophy and tactics to ensure the successful prosecution of war. It discusses how he viewed war as not just a tactical undertaking, but also as a strategic one and how Sun Tzu places particular emphasis on preserving resources, both your own as well as a defeated enemy's and on the use of deception to achieve a commander's objectives commander's objectives.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Initial Estimations
Military Combat: The Army Contending
Planning Offensives
Military Disposition
Conclusion
Bibliography

From the Paper:

"Sun Tzu advocates careful assessment and preparation before engaging in war. He discusses the importance of five factors. These are the unity of the nation behind its leader, the climate, the terrain, the quality of military leadership, and the quality of the troops and logistics. Critical self-analysis and assessment of the capabilities of the potential enemy must be undertaken by the commander before he engages in combat. Sun Tzu states that commanders who follow his philosophy will enjoy success while those who do not shouldn't be employed by a ruler. Sun Tzu also advocates the use of deception by a commander."

More papers on "The Art of War":

• Book Review # 97234 : "Sun Tzu's "The Art of War"
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• Book Review # 116685 : "Sun Tzu's "The Art of War"

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