Science, Strategy and War The Strategic Theory of ... - Boekje Pienter

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8. CONCLUSIONThe history of science demonstrates beyond a doubt that the really revolutionary and significantadvances come not from empiricism.James B. Conant 1To think theoretically one must be ready to appreciate and accept the need to sacrifice detaileddescriptions for broad observations.James N. Rosenau 2SummaryThis study aimed to improve our understanding of Boyd’s work as embodied in A Discourseon Winning and Losing. To that end in chapters 3, 4 an 5, the formative factors have beendescribed in some detail. This discussion offered insight into reasons why Boyd developedhis theory, and the professional environment his ideas landed in, and in response to which hein no small measure developed his ideas. In addition it showed a number of key themes,concepts and metaphors he derived from his background as fighter pilot, designer of fighteraircraft, his involvement in the Military Reform Movement, his reading of military history,and in particular from his study of scientific literature. Chapters 6 and 7 provided a verycomprehensive account of Boyd’s work, demonstrating that Boyd’s work constitutes a theoryof considerable sophistication, consistency and persuasiveness. It is also morecomprehensive, subtle and complex than the common rendering and the general perceptionof what Boyd argues. It addresses the grand strategic, strategic, operational and the tacticallevel, developing specific advise (or the name of the game) for action at each level, but all inlogical relation to one another. Additionally it develops suggestions for command andcontrol and organizational culture that are conceptually consistent with the overall thrust ofhis arguments on the nature of strategy and the essence of winning and losing. All are gearedtoward one aim which is to examine the dynamics of winning and losing, and eachpresentation as well as the essay contributes to that aim, offering variations, elaborations andnew conceptualizations of the essence of success, winning, or rather in its most abstract, thename of the game of organizational survival.The detailed discussion strongly indicates the importance of Boyd’s work. AlexanderGeorge has indicated that research that could improve conceptual and generic knowledge isdeemed very valuable, while Holsti states that studies linking variables from different levelsare few and any model of explanation that emphasizes dynamics and the interplay ofvariables at different levels over time is a distinct step forward 3 . Boyd’s work succeeds on1 Cited in Kaplan, p. 303.2 James N. Rosenau, The Scientific Study of Foreign Policy (2 nd edition, New York, 1980), p.26.3 Cited in Dennis J.D. Sandole (1999), p.12.280
oth accounts. Also on the question of the value of a theory in the academic sense does Boyd’swork qualify as a substantial contribution to strategic theory. Because a theory can be bothcommendable sound and disappointingly banal, it must be evaluated not only in terms of itsepistemological virtues, but also by the value of the increment in knowledge it seeks toprovide. This is determined by the scope of the phenomena it accounts for and thesignificance of the phenomena it addresses. A theory of great scope is one from whichwhose premises many implications may be drawn. Theories that correctly account for manyphenomena that had previously been poorly understood, or that adumbrate new paths toexplanation, are obviously better than those that illuminate a very narrow range of questions,or questions to which we already have satisfactory answers 4 . On most accounts Boyd’s workmust be considered important. Boyd’s work qualifies to a large extent as a general theory ofwar, addressing various kinds, levels and dimensions of war. Moreover, it offers a novelsynthesis of strategic theories, as well as new approaches to studying and thinking about warand strategy. Its importance thus lies in much more than the rapid OODA loop idea.A new synthesisThere is much familiar territory in Boyd’s work. I have argued that Boyd to some extentrepackaged familiar ideas and arguments. Boyd’s work follows closely the ideas advanced bySun Tzu, Julian Corbett, Basil Liddell Hart, J.F.C. Fuller and T.E. Lawrence, and variousothers. Despite Boyd’s critique on Clausewitz, Boyd does borrow concepts from him too.Furthermore Boyd discusses theorists of revolutionary warfare such as Lenin and Marx.Boyd did not aim to be novel per se, in fact, Boyd recognized that there is essentialcontinuity in strategic experience. Knowledge grows not only by accretion and thereplacement of dubious elements by more sound ones, but also by digestions, the remakingof the old cognitive materials into the substance of a new theory. The problem was,according to Boyd, that there are times we loose sight of those factors. Boyd’s work explicitlybuilds on this continuity. It is the foundation of his argument. And in this there are strongsimilarities, for instance between Boyd’s concept and those of Sun Tzu and Liddell Hart. Thesimilarity with Liddell Hart even goes beyond the similarities in concepts. Like Liddell Hart,Boyd wrote to convince people that the military doctrine and practice of his day wasfundamentally flawed. Like Liddell Hart Boyd opposed attrition type warfare and favoredparalysis through maneuver. Like Liddell Hart (as well as Sun Tzu, Clausewitz and J.F.CFuller), Boyd’s stressed the moral and cognitive aspects of war. The work of both menfollowed a traumatic era of warfare, and like Liddell Hart Boyd too sees the answer (in lagemeasure) in maneuver warfare theory.Neither is his constant reminder of the necessity to observe the opponent and thewider environment of combat and act accordingly a novel idea. This is directly from SunTzu, as are his ideas about shaping the environment and the opponent before actuallyengaging in combat. Sun Tzu too emphasized using superior judgment capability andconstant adaptation as a weapon. He advocated variety, rapidity, surprise, creatinguncertainty and multi-dimensional warfare and a host of other concepts and ideas werecognize in Boyd’s work, and indeed, Boyd literally incorporated various concepts from SunTzu’s work.But while many of the insights that he provided can be traced back to the work ofSun Tzu of 2500 years ago, Boyd’s did make an important contribution by rediscovering,translating and updating the concepts of Sun Tzu and the other strategists to suit the era he4 See Nincic, pp. 25-26.281
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Science, Strategy and WarThe Strate
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We are survival machines.Richard Da
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CONTENTS1. INTRODUCTION............
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Introduction.......................
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1. INTRODUCTIONTo flourish and grow
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testing of the decision selected by
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momentum and tempo, which in combin
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tracing the history of war Boyd saw
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in general. Referring to Karl Poppe
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constitute an argument about strate
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2. ON STRATEGY AND STRATEGIC THEORY
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its internal make up and the dynami
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strategist’s task is not to creat
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must be holistic, paying due respec
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Such a division can also be discern
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sensibility that would be capable o
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Why strategic theorizing is difficu
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truth is independent of human belie
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policy, is policy’ 107 . Subseque
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of systems of thought which will gu
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Science and Strategic TheoryDominan
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the major intellectual currents tha
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friction, which is infused with the
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3. THE SEEDS OF A THEORY AND THE FE
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Slowly his writings matured. In 196
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This situation also reflected the d
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at the cost of airspeed depletion)
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and air power theorists are notably
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Lawrence wrote Liddell Hart that fo
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The Indirect ApproachThe foregoing
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in weakening the opponent’s will
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standing in a direct theoretical li
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perfect information, so Chapter 9 r
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According with the enemy is the ass
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preconceived battle plan depends up
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mental or moral, instead they aim t
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calculation, based on the assumptio
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Turbulent environmentThis convictio
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the introduction of the M1 Abrams t
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campaign with which it was most com
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The debates resulted via the improv
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emphasized being more responsive, a
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4. SCIENCE: BOYD’S FOUNTAINKnowle
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The list exceeds 20 pages. Indeed,
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counter-culture. He had read severa
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Popper’s Evolutionary Epistemolog
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species. Finally, theories, unlike
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discovery’ 39 . ‘We have here t
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for failure and an encouragement fo
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investigated and a change of the ru
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Paradigm shiftBeyond NewtonIn the p
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philosophical aspects, Prigogine an
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uncertainty in another “conjugate
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The link between thermodynamics and
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As Ludwig Bertalanffy noted, the gr
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assessing deviation from coursecoun
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the system by the environment or ot
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A slightly more complex model from
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implementation of the right program
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The model below shows this process
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The process of learning, and the pr
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Positive indicatorsNegative indicat
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In Patterns of Conflict he also emp
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progressed and developed a new lang
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advances in knowledge, adaptation,
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TraditionalReductionismLinear causa
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exist only because they are open. T
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Concentration of chemical ANew stab
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It preserves the web-like pattern o
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Orientation shapes the character of
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either. The edge of chaos is where
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The final region is the boundary be
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Levels of adaptationThis naturally
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Operate inside adversary’s OODA l
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Organisms which are internally cons
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The last mentioned feature implies
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mathematics, in short chaos and com
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Such efforts have lead to suggestio
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processes are maintained simultaneo
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Boyd’s views on command and contr
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Several of these ideas surface in B
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problems they seek to comprehend or
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ehavior in reaction to what the oth
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sciences, which he termed a new int
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egulations, orders, and other means
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as focus for military planning on t
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A Discourse and the scientific Zeit
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Sharpening our mental capabilities
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perceive it’ 184 . By trying to c
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Ensure a large variety of conceptua
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The main intent of the effort is to
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e true. Thus tested and refined, it
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particulars or we can start with th
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inconsistencies may emerge to stifl
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although not exact1y -- since the u
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eality 29 . As indicated earlier, t
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He then incorporates a section of t
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Attack enemy’s plans as best poli
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planning process which included var
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Boyd does not find fault with these
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oth methods the same processes seem
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strategic planning in light of the
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gauged all the conditions indicated
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Blitzkrieg disrupts the connections
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- a medium to realize superior inte
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Only the fourth condition relates t
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Shape and exploit crises environmen
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penetrate an adversary to subvert,
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Maneuver Conflict - as practices by
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In light of his previous observatio
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difficult) subordinates that accept
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This then leads to the second wrap-
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mask one’s own system against any
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dimension on the behavior of a stra
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Theme for Disintegration and Collap
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Strategic AimDiminish adversary’s
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ApplicationRevisiting Sun Tzu, rein
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The general underlying idea of Coun
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Page 244 and 245: Boyd’s inspiration also came in p
Page 246 and 247: The Big O: Orientation.The ensuing
Page 248 and 249: implicit cross-referencing process
Page 250 and 251: Magnify adversary’s friction and
Page 252 and 253: This differs from traditional views
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Page 256 and 257: General SurveyIn this section his i
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Page 260 and 261: “Destruction and Creation”, by
Page 262 and 263: So Boyd discerns within the adversa
Page 264 and 265: On isolation and interactionPhysica
Page 266 and 267: The Art of Success:Shape or influen
Page 268 and 269: The meaning of strategy and the art
Page 270 and 271: however is not much different, but
Page 272 and 273: Examples from EngineeringSome Outst
Page 274 and 275: words, in order to gain a richer im
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Page 278 and 279: technology, is connected to the gam
Page 280 and 281: The real OODA loop270
Page 282 and 283: This relates the OODA loop clearly
Page 284 and 285: for a process of learning, of evolv
Page 286 and 287: thing any system is constantly faci
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Page 292 and 293: found himself in. To Sun Tzu Boyd a
Page 294 and 295: strategy. He elaborates on several
Page 296 and 297: ehavior, demonstrating the value of
Page 298 and 299: film, sociology, geography, literar
Page 300 and 301: That social scientific knowledge, o
Page 302 and 303: undertakes to improve its own perfo
Page 304 and 305: The reflexive nature of modern soci
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Page 310 and 311: all point at the changes the techno
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Page 316 and 317: This will affect war and warfare:
Page 318 and 319: Athena’s Camp. They see swarming
Page 320 and 321: commanders to improve their decisio
Page 322 and 323: Military War Beyond Military War No
Page 324 and 325: schemas. Gell-Mann developed the id
Page 326 and 327: extent in the novel approach for th
Page 328 and 329: ANNEX B: BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PATTERNS O
Page 330 and 331: LeBoeuf, Michael, “GMP, The Great
Page 332 and 333: Wolf, Eric R., “Peasant Wars of t
Page 334 and 335: Bartolomasi, Paolo: ‘The Realitie
Page 336 and 337: Cohen, William S.: Report of the Qu
Page 338 and 339: Fukuyama, Francis: The Great Disrup
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Hughes, Daniel: ‘Abuses of German
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Lewin, Roger, and Birute Regine:
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Murdock, Paul, ‘Principles of War
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Rosenau, James, N.: ‘Many Damn Th
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Walt, Stephen M.: ‘Rigor or Rigor
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