CHAPTER III[ToC]
BASIC PRINCIPLES APPLICABLE TO MILITARY PROBLEMS
(The Fundamental Military Principle)
On the basis of the previous discussion as to the natural mental processes and as to principles useful in their employment, Chapter III discusses the requirements for the attainment of an end in human affairs.
The fundamental principle thus derived is then applied to the needs of the military profession, so as to develop the Fundamental Military Principle. This Principle indicates the requirements of a correct military objective and of the action for its attainment.
Review of Conclusions as to Principles. On the premise that all human activities and their environment are governed by natural laws ([page 22]), the preceding chapter has been devoted to an analysis of the natural mental processes employed in meeting the problems of human life. This analysis has stressed four fundamental truths:
(1) That a valid rule, or principle, when complete, embraces all known phenomena pertinent to the relationship established.