Why We Should Study War

Published September 07, 2022

The academic discipline of military history is in decline, but it must be revived in order to understand how to prevent wars from occurring. Pretending that wars are a relic of the past ignores recent and distant conflicts and makes unrealistic assumptions about human nature. The notion that wars can be prevented by technological advancement, money, education, or good intentions must be abandoned.

Discussion Questions: 

  1. Why has military history atrophied as a field of study?
  2. Can wars be prevented? If so, how?

Additional Resources:

  • Read “Why Study War?” by Victor Davis Hanson via City Journal. Available here.
  • Watch “War, Peace, and Politics with Victor Davis Hanson,” on GoodFellows. Available here.
  • Watch “Why Nations Go to War,” on PolicyEd. Available here.

Cast

Victor Davis Hanson

Victor Davis Hanson

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