Is all War just a response to our instintive fear of hunger?

Question

I heard this theory that we are all afraid, subconciously, of huinger and thirst, and that this causes us to fight with our neighbours on a local, national and international level. Any truth in this argument?

Answer 1

In as much as you can relate all our needs back to the two basic urges to survive and reproduce... but to do so excuses and discards the progress we've made as social beings.

Answer 2

No!
The theory was first proposed in the 1700's by Thomas Malthus, that countries with a high birth rate have high levels of aggression and a high rate of violent crime and death. The oppostite is also true; a low birth rate leads to a low death rate.
A feeling of 'overcrowding' is the key factor in aggression. It works on a personal and international level, and it manifests itself through irritation; which can escalate. Its not just people it affects; all species are affected by it, it prompts dispersal.
Overcrowding is what prompts grasshoppers to turn into locusts. They then swarm and disperse.
When there is no space to move into, violence occurs.
The fight or flight reaction is the problem here; a percieved threat.

But this violence occurs even in populations where there is surplus food and water; space is also a key issue.

Answer 3

While some may have that theory, there is also the one that's basis comes from the humanistic need to be in control.

Constant control, whether of our environment or in war's case, our neighbours, has always been part of the human nature. No matter whether it was ten thousand years ago, now, or in a thousand years, things will be the same.

Answer 4

No. War is a response to laziness. Some people think it's easier to steal than to work hard to plant and nurture crops.

The large, extra-genetic brain power our species has developed has rendered us exempt from most forces of natural selection. I think we've developed war as a replacement for those other, more ancient agents of natural selection.

And don't forget, chimps and other primates have tribal warfare too, depending on their cranial capacity.

Answer 5

I think war is more of a response to the fact that we are all different and we don't like that fact

Answer 6

In our attempt to be intellectuals and to appear as if we are higher beings, in comparison to other living creatures, you have to answer this.

if we the western societies are civilized and rational, then how can we declare war. War is never justified if we are civilized.

I prefer to take a different view, yes the need for security is felt like hunger in each and everyone of us, the security of regular payments of money, from our jobs, so that we can live in a nice warm homes, have food to eat, and not fear hunger............in order to be secure we have to go into conflict with others...... on a daily basis we compete for jobs, for a seat on the bus............to get served at the bar..........all of this may not be seen as war..... but war is competition on a large scale involving to opposing groups....they say that the third world war will be competition for resources..........for oil, gas, water, these have all become basic needs in our civilized world, they do not differ from wood, or coal to make fire, the only difference is that they are much more sought after...war can be seen as fear.....but it can also be explained by our instinct to compete with our neighbours....to become better than Mr Smith next door..... then in reality we haven't progressed very far...for animals compete everyday, just like us they compete for food,, for land,, for sexual partners...we aren't anything new.....our responses aren't all unique or special...we declare war because in doing so we create more harmony within our communities...look at how the US united within when they went to war in Afghanistan, and later Iraq.....rational and civilized beings would not declare war. cause mass murder and reduce others to a life of hell, civilized beings respect and value others.. they can empathise with living beings that also feel pain and suffering........

So yes War is a fear and now in our new world, that natural instinct to fear hunger, manifests itself into other needs. hunger drives us to succeed at any expense. we declare war because we as animals have to gain security and resources, and because we love to compete, and win....the gratification of wining and defeating our enemies is driven by basic natural instincts......
we shouldn't feel above this or have to explain ourselves any better

Answer 7

I thought religion was the greatest cause of war

Answer 8

No, I think there is Greed of Biblical proportion in there too. More food than one could possibly eat or hoard or procure for their future generations.

Answer 9

None, unless you live in a place where there is little water or food growing....

And even then.....


Sash.