Is the world becoming increasingly violent?

Question

Thomas Hobbes says that humans have a natural propensity for selfishness and violence. But has the social contract failed in our time? Is the Hobbesian war of all against all escalating today?

I thought humankind was supposedly to be more enlightened today or more civilized? Why do we have so many school shootings, wars, gang violence and mass family killings today? Shouldn't we be making moral progress?

Answer 1

hey are you living on earth or in moon. ofcourse not only world but also all the universe and the nature didn't you see Tsunami and didn't you see wars 1st and 2nd world wars and now what called (( WAR AGAINST TERROR)) and ironically by terrifying people .the problem is that people's problem increase and also their needs and here comes Nitzche's principle
((SURVIVAL FOR THE FITTEST))

Answer 2

Complex question.
It would seem that violence has decreased in societies that have been first to go through the industrial revolutions and enjoy the most advanced technologies today.
But first appearances can be deceiving. Up to the advent of weapons of mass destructions, technology increased the violence of war. It's only after world war II, where it became obvious war could no longer bring tangible advantages to the victor, that major wars have been on the wane. It would therefore seem that man is not naturally pacific. Deterence has been more successful at pacifying the west than any ideology of non-violence.
Furthermore, there is an argument to be made to say that western states are client states and that the third world is being coerced into furnishing the west with raw materials through either violence, or threat of violence, so that while the west and other developped country no longer war with each other directly, they use third world nations as pawns in economic games that often involve war.
So it would seem that despite appearances, there is little in human nature that has changed. Humans tend to want the most for the group they identify with, and then create a morality to justify their group's 'right' to those resources.
The reason is that technical progress is not identical with moral progress. Our claims at being more advanced really only means that we have more tools at our disposal to enforce our will. If our will leads us to war and exploitation, all 'advanced' means is that we're more efficient at war and exploitation. Advanced, in this sense, has no moral or spiritual connotation. There lies the problem.

Answer 3

Violence has always been out there and probably always will be. The world just experienced a half century of relative peace during the 'Cold War'. Now that that is over, the world is up to its usual antics again. Maybe it just seems that violence is escalating because it is so close to home this time.

Answer 4

I don't think the world has become more violent. I think it just seems like it because we are more aware now because of the media.

I believe, that people all over the world have a higher disdain for violence now than a hundred years ago. They're more willing to compromise to save lives, which is why there is a UN now and not 200 years ago.

Yes, it's easier to kill nowadays, with all the improvements in technology, but it seems that people are less willing to do it, which in my eyes makes up for it. There were more wars in the 18th century than the 19th centuries although in the 19th century had tanks, bombs, and planes.

Answer 5

No, it hasn't. But...the perception that we are descending into violence is growing.
The press sells newspapers by the pound, TV by the advertising costs per minute. Violence / sensationalism sells.
Given the choice between a story about a robbery / murder or a positive act of cooperation - the press will report the violence every time.
Are we any more violent than any medieval warlord or the Roman in their heyday?

Answer 6

Violence is not increasing in rate of occurrence nor overall level. What has increased is the rate at which news of violence propagates. At one time news would have spread via ship. Later newspapers would have spread the word. Now we have 24 news channels with world-wide affiliates and the internet that allow for near instantaneous reporting. Combine the speed and ease of information travel with the need to fill 24 hour news programming and you get headline news stories that would not have been reported in the past.

Answer 7

Selfishness (free will) is the root of cause of vio...lence . If I cannot get what I like then all my negative emotions are present and in control, the same thing if I cannot remove what I like. All of us are having this mentality. Everybody is doing it from top to bottom of existence. The more powerful is the person the more violent he is. The spectacular presentation of vio...lence is the war. Maybe you can check yourself at the moment when someone thwarted your desire, I know this always happen to everybody. You can watch the children play there is always a moment that they don't like what is happening. The same and very true with us grown up.

Answer 8

I will have to agree that our perception/attitude towards violence has changed. No matter what culture you study, the past is fraught with some form of "Comitatus;" The original social contract, it says that if you take one of ours, we have the right to take one of yours. Social constuct has changed, and we look to the court system to mete out justice. Still, I think that we tend to be unsatisfied in the face of abject violence. We want revenge.
That a man leveld "justice" on the animal that raped his daughter 50 years ago was not newsworthy. Today, it is all over CNN. Is it right? Just? I think that we have to decide.....and soon!

Answer 9

i think so, consider the average life span of the black male living in our inner cities.......21.the violence in schools,hell thats all that is on the tube today,kids do pick up on it.im 45 yrs if i would have acted like kids today during my childhood,i would have gotten a good old fashioned *** whoopin.to be honest i truley believe thats when things started to go down hill,spare the rod spoil the child,yea see the child now!!!!

Answer 10

not familiar with his work, but a short perusal of history books will answer your question. Humans have always had a violent history. I am sure this nature was just as prevalent in prehistoric times too.