User:Anna josephson/sandbox

Daoist rhetoric is a component incorporated in the Art of War. According to Steven C. Combs in "Sun-zi and the Art of War: Rhetoric of Parsimony," warfare is used as a metaphor for rhetoric, and that both are philosophically based arts. Combs writes “Warfare is analogous to persuasion, as a battle for hearts and minds”. The usage of The Art of War strategies is attributed to its philosophical rhetoric. Daoism is the central principle in the art of war. Combs compares ancient Daoist chinese to traditional Aristotelian rhetoric, notably for the differences in persuasion. Daoist rhetoric in the art of war warfare strategies is described as "peaceful and passive, favoring silence over speech". This form of communication is parsimonious. Parsimonious behavior, which is highly emphasized in The Art of War as avoiding confrontation and being spiritual in nature, shapes basic principles in Daoism.