Targets of Opportunity: On the Militarization of Thinking - Critical

In this review Samuel Weber's Targets of Opportunity: On the Militarization of Thinking is presented as a rigorous, philosophical examination of how targeting shapes thought and political form. The reviewer finds it most valuable for readers interested in political theory, psychoanalytic readings of warfare, and literary-philosophical approaches to modern violence. The single biggest reason to buy this book is its sustained, comparative reading of classical and modern texts that traces how the notion of targeting reconfigures subjectivity and strategy.

Key Features

• Interdisciplinary close readings: Weber connects episodes from Homer to Freud and Carl Schmitt, offering comparative insights that clarify how targeting operates across genres and eras.
• Thematic focus on targeting: The book centers the concept of skopos, helping readers understand targeting as an intentional structure shaping both political action and thought.
• Detailed chapter studies: Individual chapters treat distinct sources - Odysseus and the suitors, Schmitt's Catholicism, Freud's wartime essays - providing focused, rigorous analysis in each case.
• Engagement with military thought: Weber traces an alternative strand within strategic thinking, including Network Centered Warfare, to show conceptual shifts in practice as well as theory.
• Benjamin and capitalism: The book concludes by juxtaposing Walter Benjamin's readings of capitalism as religion, expanding the argument to cultural and religious dimensions of militarized thinking.

Who It's For

Academic readers in political theory, philosophy, literary studies, and psychoanalysis will find this book rewarding; it assumes familiarity with thinkers like Freud, Schmitt, Benjamin and comfort with close textual work. Graduate students and seminar leaders can use it as a provocatively framed text for discussions on violence, sovereignty, and the ethics of targeting.

Readers seeking an introductory or popular history of modern warfare should look elsewhere, as Weber's approach is essayistic and theoretical rather than a practical or journalistic account of military operations.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Ambitious comparative scope that links classical literature to modern political theory.
• Careful readings of Freud and Schmitt that illuminate the philosophical stakes of targeting.
• Introduces military and strategic concepts like Network Centered Warfare into a philosophical debate, broadening the conversation.

Cons

• Theoretical density means it demands slow, attentive reading and prior familiarity with key thinkers.

Specifications

Title	Targets of Opportunity: On the Militarization of Thinking
Author	Samuel Weber
Main themes	Targeting (skopos), militarization of thought, subjectivity
Primary texts examined	Odysseus, Freud, Carl Schmitt, Walter Benjamin
Approach	Comparative literary-philosophical analysis
Includes discussion of	Network Centered Warfare and capitalism as religion

Our Verdict

Targets of Opportunity is a demanding but rewarding book for specialists who want a sustained philosophical account of how targeting shapes political and psychic life. Its comparative readings and engagement with military thought make it particularly valuable to scholars; the investment of attention yields a deep, conceptually rich payoff and good value for readers seeking theory-driven critique.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book focus on historical battles?
Not primarily; the emphasis is on philosophical and textual readings rather than military history or operational accounts.

Is prior knowledge of Freud or Schmitt required?
Helpful but not strictly required; familiarity with these thinkers makes the book more accessible and rewarding.

Will this interest readers of political theory?
Yes, especially those interested in sovereignty, violence, and how conceptual frameworks like targeting shape political practice.