School of War Ep 210: Scott Boorman on Sun Tzu
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Jun 27, 2025 Scott Boorman, a Yale Sociology professor and author of Three Faces of Sun Tzu, dives deep into the strategic brilliance of Sun Tzu. He discusses the significance of 'knowing your enemy' and how ancient texts apply to modern military strategies. Boorman also explores the absence of siege warfare in Sun Tzu's teachings, arguing it reflects weak leadership. The conversation highlights the cost-effectiveness of conflicts and the need for a unified understanding of Sun Tzu's ideas, bridging historical context with contemporary applications.
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Scott's Strategic Upbringing
- Scott Boorman grew up in a family immersed in military intelligence, influencing his lifelong interest in strategy and China.
- Despite homeschooling and an early focus on mathematics, his dual interests in Chinese scholarship shaped his later work.
Weiqi and Chinese Strategy
- The Chinese communist revolution strategy aligned structurally with the game of Weiqi (Go), emphasizing playing at the board's edge.
- This alignment shows a deeper and more faithful comparison than Western chess analogies to Chinese strategy.
Dual Journey in Sun Tzu Study
- Scott's book develops a full, critical analytic reading of Sun Tzu's text, shedding light on its 400 propositions.
- It combines a deep traditional-context reading with extrapolations applying Sun Tzu to modern-day and digital environments.
