Category Archives: Sun Tzu

Osama bin Laden: The Nemesis Of History

Posted on May 4, 2011 by William Holland

The death of Osama bin Laden ushers in an period of relief fit for Sophocles! It should surprise no one that violent revolutionaries are unfit to govern the impact of the means by which they rule.  This tale is well … Continue reading →

Posted in Arnold Toynbee, International Relations, Islam, Near East, Pakistan, Raymond Aron, Satan/Evil, Sun Tzu, Terrorism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Osama bin Laden: The Nemesis Of History

Sun Tzu: On Teaching & The Soldiering Of Pupils

Posted on August 20, 2010 by William Holland

For anyone who has struggled teaching youth, take courage for Sun Tzu is your companion. Chapter 10 titled ‘Terrain’ No. 26 reveals:  “If a commander is indulgent, and unable to make your authority felt; kind hearted, but unable to enforce … Continue reading →

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The Brilliance Of Sun Tzu: Leadership & Courting Defeat

Posted on August 20, 2010 by William Holland

Chapter 10 titled ‘Terrain’ has a brilliant small essay (No. 10) on the six ways in which men court defeat.  It was left to a brilliant commander who lived during the time of Sun Tzu who became a commentator on … Continue reading →

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General David Petraeus Ph.D., Icon Of Counterinsurgency & The Ideals Of Mao Tse-tung & Sun Tzu

Posted on August 19, 2010 by William Holland

About fifteen years ago Nien Cheng (author of ‘Life & Death In Shanghai’) gave the commencement address at Marist College in New York.  I was unaware of her life and her relation to Mao Tse-tung, she was best friends with … Continue reading →

Posted in Central Asia, China, Sun Tzu, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Clausewitz vs. Sun Tzu

Posted on July 18, 2010 by William Holland

Their is an old saying at West Point:  ‘beginners study tactics, amateurs study strategy, but only the best study logistics’.  Logistics being the formal study of how one achieves a goal.  Their is not always symmetry between these competing claims … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiquity, Arnold Toynbee, China, Ethics, International Relations, Kant, Morality, Politics, Raymond Aron, Sun Tzu, Theology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Christ Or Kung Fu: A Historical Contrast Of Growth

Posted on June 30, 2010 by William Holland

I’ve studied and taught Chinese (Sinic) civilization with enough rigor so as to provide some insight into how one can approach and therefore discern the enduring contribution of both Confucius and Lao Tse; both being the authorities on Confuciansim and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Tocqueville, Arnold Toynbee, China, Conservatism, Constitution, Education, Eric Voegelin, Ethics, Frontier, International Relations, Kant, Morality, Near East, Politics, Sun Tzu, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Civilizational Growth Or Decline: Technique, Expansion, Finding The Criteria For Intelligibility Of Civilizations

Posted on June 28, 2010 by William Holland

It remains out of vogue in our age of political correctness to speak of either growth or decline of civilizations.  But I do believe that their are criteria to discover a field of intelligibility from which to study and determine … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Tocqueville, Arnold Toynbee, China, Conservatism, Constitution, Education, Eric Voegelin, Ethics, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Harry Jaffa, International Relations, John Paul II, Morality, Near East, Perils Of Specialization, Politics, Raymond Aron, Shakespeare, Sun Tzu, Theology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Jackie Chan & The Liberation of China

Posted on May 25, 2010 by William Holland

The recent uproar over Jackie Chan’s comments regarding China’s assimilation away from traditional authoritarian mores toward Western Capitalism and its attendant chaotic mess is instructive, for it highlight’s several key issues that ought to dominate the thinking of policy makers … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Tocqueville, China, Conservatism, International Relations, Perils Of Specialization, Politics, Sun Tzu | Tagged | Comments Off on Jackie Chan & The Liberation of China