Three Platonic Themes in Clausewitz: A Forgotten Legacy

Abstract

Notwithstanding the lack of explicit references to Plato’s works in Clausewitz’s writings, this article argues that the Prussian General may have been influenced by the Greek philosopher. First, Clausewitz's concept of “absolute war” has an ideality close to that of a Platonic form, and some of its elements are already present in the Republic. Second, there are strong analogies between Clausewitz’s trinitarian definition of war and the psychosocial features of Plato’s city. Lastly, the article draws a comparison between Clausewitz’s analysis of “martial genius” and Plato’s concept of thumos.