A series of nine discourses examines military science as a social phenomenon and its ties to other branches of knowledge. The essays trace how war, armed institutions, and military organization relate to moral, natural, and exact sciences, and how they shape and are shaped by legislation, economy, philosophy, and literature. The author argues that understanding men, weapons, and the physical theater of operations requires interdisciplinary knowledge, and highlights the financial and political consequences of military systems. The collection aims to clarify these connections for public officials and to supply material for a broader history of military science.