WHAT DID THUCYDIDES, SUN-TZU AND CLAUSEWITZ REALLY SAY? The issue of contradictory interpretations in the context of military strategy

Abstract

Classical strategic theorists constitute an important pillar of military strategy education, but their texts are often interpreted in contradictory ways. This article aims to draw attention to the problem of contrasting interpretations, focusing on the interpretations of Thucydides, Sun-Tzu and Clausewitz. The article surveys popular interpretations of these classics, identifies the main differences between them, and uses deductive logic to draw out the implications of this state of affairs for the study of military strategy.