《손자병법孫子兵法》의 수사학적 고찰 ― 냉혹冷酷과 인자仁慈, 그 대립과 통일

The Art of War is a classic that discusses both the harshness and the humanity of warfare. War, being a matter of life and death, presents a cold and unforgiving challenge. The humane way to approach it, according to The Art of War, is to avoid fighting altogether and win without battle, or if that's not possible, to finish the war quickly and decisively. While The Art of War entirely excludes ethics and morality, focusing instead on a pragmatic and realistic perspective, it still demonstrates a form of humanity within that harshness. Therefore, when reading The Art of War, understanding how its seemingly contradictory elements of coldness and humanity are unified can be key to grasping its core philosophy. This approach helps to explore the complex interplay between strategy, human nature, and the inevitability of conflict. While there are many ways to interpret The Art of War, reading it from this larger, rhetorical perspective can also be a valuable method.