The art of war - what do you think?

[SwedishCommie]

I am reading Sun-Tzu's The Art of War and i read this:
"The art of war is vital for the state"
Then if you think about it in a Communist Society where the state has been abolished there is no need for war!
What do you think?

[redstar2000]

Speculating in detail about what things may be like a century or more in the future gets into murky waters.

The material roots of war between states will, presumably, be absent in a communist world...as will states themselves except for a few vestigial remnants.

There might be other causes of conflict then that we have no way of knowing about now.

For example, consider two neighboring communist regions with significant "cultural" differences that are part of their pre-revolutionary heritage. Is it possible that one region might consider the "peculiarities" of the other so "awful" as to wish to make war upon it?

I don't know the answer to that one and I don't think it can be known...until the time arrives.

On this as on many things, it's often better to wait and see.

:cool:

[suffianr]

I think what Sun Tzu meant to say was more about mastering strategy, tactics and logistical considerations than about a state's actions in justifying or facilitating conditions for war. More about the reality of survival than rhetorical considerations.

*Ka-Ching. Two cent's worth.*

[Pete]

The art of war is vital for the state.

Take a look at this statement. Just let it wash over you and then, when you are done with that, move onto this next 'fact.'

War is peace.

See how nicely they fit together? Feel the connection in your mind until each statement is one. When you feel you have satisfied your mind with understanding that you drag out your self move on to this next 'truth.'

The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms;

Now it is getting a little more wordy, the sentence structure more complex. Notice how this is not a complete sentence. This is more, but that is irrelevant. Make your own second clause. Think about the first to statements. See how they can be married to form a third to close the part-sentence above? Unite all that I have provided in italics and think about your creation. Write it and revel it.

The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms; silence is the absense of life.

In socialism there will be an ongoing class warfare as the bourgeoisie, and remaining aristocracy, are crushed and assimilated, note how I do not say killed, into the proletariat. In communism the struggle will be more mental. Between man and himself, walking the rope to achieve something more human.

Behold I teach you Superman: He is this lightning, he is this madness!

Encompassed by this statement, this concept humanity is achieved in the gom jibbor of internal struggle. In communism we step out of our man-ness into our human-ness. We become, in essense, the superman that Nietzche speaks of as we are constantly in war against our selves, constantly over coming what we see as our boundries. We become! We are!

(Edited by CrazyPete at 7:25 pm on May 19, 2003)

[Nobody]

If you take the book in historical context, it was a time when Eastern China was divided into scores of small states, many would rise and fall over night. So in Sun Tzu's day a city-state with an inept leader would disappear quickily. It was a dog eat dog time then, and he was just telling it how it was.