40. Antiheroes: Sunzi’s Art of War
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Are the methods of warfare proposed in the famous Art of War an example of “applied Daoism”?
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Themes:
Further Reading
• R.D. Sawyer, Sun Tzu: The Art of War (Boulder: 1994).
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• R.T. Ames, The Art of Rulership: a Study of Ancient Chinese Political Thought (Albany: 1994).
• M.E. Lewis, Sanctioned Violence in Early China (Albany: 1990).
• W.H. Mott and J.C. Kim, The Philosophy of Chinese Military Culture: Shih vs Li (New York: 2006).
• S.A. Wawrykto, “Winning Ways: the Viability (dao) and Virtuosity (de) of Sunzi’s Methods of Warfare (bingfa),” Journal of Chinese Philosophy 34 (2007), 561-79.
Comments
Laozi on war tactics
I believe there is a line in Laozi that says: "A war master said that it is better to go two yards backward than one step ahead..." (a free rendition from memory)
Which means Laozi also comments on war. Thus, war exists in the Laozi book.
I feel this aspect was left out in the episode and the Laozi "itself" represented as too "pacifist".
How would the reply to this be?
In reply to Laozi on war tactics by Your name
Laozi on war
Indeed! In the episode we actually cite some passages about war from the Laozi, I was actually worried that it might be confusing which source is being quoted (obviously easier to flag the citation in writing than in an audio podcast). But we make this point several times so maybe have another listen!
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