Analysis Of River Out Of Eden And The Art Of War

It is difficult to argue whether strategy is an art form or science because it can actually be both. Sun Tzu’s text, â€Å"The Art of War† is an example of an ancient humanism text about strategies of war. Humanism by definition is, â€Å"an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems†(Dictionary.com). Therefore, humanism is much like philosophy which is related to science yet influenced by the skill of art. Thomas Cleary starts off the text with a quote from â€Å"The Book of Balance and Harmony† which states, â€Å"To know after seeing is not worthy of being called knowing†(qtd. in Cleary, xv-xvi), but since Sun Tzu’s teachings are philosophical the text renders itself as war knowledge. In â€Å"River Out of Eden: A D arwinian View of Life†, author and biologist Richard Dawkins would greatly disagree with Cleary’s quote because Dawkins believes that, â€Å"Scientific beliefs are supported by evidence, and they get results†(Dawkins 33). According to Dawkins, Darwinism has the power to explain natural occurrences in the universe and his mission is to disprove supernatural views of creation and the world with observable scientific knowledge. Although, military strategies are intuitive there are also observable scientific aspects to the art of war which follow the scientific method.Show MoreRelatedEssay on Altruism: Our Desire to Help Others2507 Words   |  11 Pagessurvival of the fittest, calculates that humans basic goal and reason of life is to survive, and reproduce; to have only ones self in mind. But why then, if natural selection filters us down to survival of the fittest, might one creature stick its neck out for another? 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