The Ancient Wisdom of Military Strategy

Sun Tzu’s The Art of War contains timeless principles that transcend battlefield tactics, offering profound insights into human psychology and decision-making. Among its most famous passages is the list of nine situational cautions, including the admonition “do not swallow bait offered by the enemy.” This simple directive encapsulates a universal truth about human vulnerability to deception and our tendency to pursue apparent gains without considering hidden costs.

The concept of “bait avoidance” in warfare has been interpreted in strikingly different ways throughout history. The straightforward military interpretation, as demonstrated in Cao Cao’s brilliant maneuver against Liu Bei and Wen Chou, shows how abandoning supplies could lure greedy enemies into vulnerable positions. Meanwhile, the Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu offered a more literal interpretation about poisoned provisions, illustrating how even incorrect readings can yield valuable historical knowledge about unconventional tactics like the Later Wei Dynasty’s poisoned wine strategy.

The Scholar’s Curse: When Knowledge Becomes Competition

Historical commentary traditions reveal a troubling pattern among intellectuals across cultures – the transformation of learning into competition. The Eleven Commentaries on Sun Tzu provides a perfect case study of this phenomenon. Du Mer’s relentless criticism of Cao Cao’s annotations (“Cao’s explanation is wrong!”) demonstrates how scholarly discourse often becomes more about asserting superiority than seeking truth. This pattern continued through the centuries, with Song Dynasty scholar Mei Yaochen then critiquing Du Mu’s interpretations in turn.

This intellectual one-upmanship represents what Confucius warned against when he said “arrogance invites disgrace.” The dynamic creates an endless cycle where each generation of scholars feels compelled to distinguish themselves by disproving predecessors rather than building upon their wisdom. As the Ming Dynasty philosopher Wang Yangming observed, “The explanation was already complete, but they had to propose a different one to surpass it.” This competitive approach to knowledge fundamentally corrupts the learning process.

The Psychology of Competitive Reading

At its core, competitive reading stems from what psychologist Alfred Adler called the “will to power” – the human drive for significance and superiority. When applied to intellectual pursuits, this manifests in several problematic behaviors:

1. The compulsion to find flaws in authoritative texts
2. The need to propose novel interpretations regardless of merit
3. Public displays of erudition during discussions
4. Preference for controversy over consensus

Modern education often inadvertently encourages these tendencies through grading curves, debate formats, and publication pressures that reward originality over truth. The ancient Chinese scholars’ experience shows these are not new problems but persistent challenges in any intellectual tradition.

Practical Wisdom from Military Thinkers

Genuine military practitioners like Cao Cao and modern commentator Guo Huaruo (a PLA general) demonstrate an alternative approach focused on practical application rather than theoretical novelty. Their interpretations carry particular weight because they were tested in life-or-death situations, not just academic debates. As the saying goes, “Cao Cao has actually eaten pork” (experienced real warfare), while others “haven’t even seen pigs run” (lack practical experience).

This pragmatic tradition emphasizes:
– Testing ideas against real-world conditions
– Focusing on actionable insights rather than theoretical purity
– Learning from both correct and incorrect examples
– Maintaining intellectual humility before complex realities

The Modern Relevance of Ancient Lessons

In our information-saturated age, the warnings about competitive reading take on new urgency. Social media algorithms reward provocative takes over nuanced understanding. Academic publishing incentives favor novelty over replication. Even casual reading often becomes performative – sharing “hot takes” to demonstrate sophistication rather than deepen comprehension.

Contemporary research in psychology and education confirms the ancient wisdom:
– The “illusion of explanatory depth” shows how quickly people overestimate their understanding
– Studies on the “Dunning-Kruger effect” demonstrate how superficial knowledge breeds overconfidence
– Neuroscientific findings reveal how emotional investment in being right physically blocks learning

Cultivating Authentic Learning Habits

Breaking free from competitive reading requires intentional practice. Several time-tested approaches emerge from both Eastern and Western traditions:

1. The Socratic method: Asking genuine questions to expose gaps in understanding
2. Confucian humility: Approaching texts with reverence rather than criticism
3. Buddhist beginner’s mind: Letting go of preconceptions during study
4. Stoic focus: Concentrating only on what we can control – our own understanding

Practical application exercises like war gaming (testing strategies in simulated scenarios) or journaling about how concepts apply to personal challenges can shift focus from debating others to improving ourselves.

The Enduring Value of Misinterpretations

Paradoxically, even “wrong” interpretations like Du Mu’s poisoned wine theory add value by:
– Preserving alternative historical perspectives
– Stimulating critical thinking about standard explanations
– Demonstrating creative approaches to problems
– Reminding us that knowledge progresses through dialogue

As Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz observed, “Wrong opinions are still useful because they show us other perspectives.” This generous approach to intellectual history allows us to learn from everyone while idolizing no one.

Conclusion: Returning to the Purpose of Reading

The fundamental question remains: Why do we read? Is it to accumulate ammunition for debates, or to transform our understanding? The healthiest approach combines intellectual rigor with personal humility – studying texts deeply while remembering that true wisdom lies in application, not argumentation.

By focusing on how ideas can improve our lives rather than how our critiques can impress others, we honor the true purpose of intellectual traditions. As the military strategists understood, the most valuable knowledge isn’t what makes us look clever, but what helps us navigate reality more effectively. In reading as in warfare, sometimes the greatest victory comes from resisting the bait of superficial triumphs.