Military theory analyses both normative behavioral phenomena and explanatory causal aspects to better understand war and how it is fought.
Theory aims to explain the causes for military victory and produce guidance on how war should be waged and won,[3] rather than developing universal, immutable laws which can bound the physical act of warfare or codifying empirical data, such as weapon effects, platform operating ranges, consumption rates and target information, to aid military planning.
Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz wrote, 'The primary purpose of any theory is to clarify concepts and ideas that have become, as it were, confused and entangled.
Not until terms and concepts have been defined can one hope to make any progress in examining the questions clearly and simply and expect the reader to share one's views.
'[8] Military theory informs the political, strategic, operational and tactical levels of war.