Absolute War is often confused with the very different concept of "ideal war" featured in the first chapter of "On War." In that discussion, Clausewitz explained that ideal war is a philosophical abstraction—a "logical fantasy"—that is impossible in practice because it is not directed or constrained by political motives or concerns, nor limited by the practical constraints of time, space, and human nature. He called warfare constrained by these moderating real-world influences "real war." Absolute War is also routinely confused with "Total War," a term that does not appear on "Vom Kriege."