Is this a reason to go to war?

Question

Suppose there are two starving tribes on a field. The potatoes just arrive to feed only one of the tribes, who thus acquire forces to go to the other side of the mountain, where there are more potatoes; but if the two tribes divide in peace the potatoes of the field, the two tribes are not fed enough and will die of starvation. The peace, in this in case is the destruction; the war, is the hope.

Answer 1

There is no excuse for war. Obviously there are too many people on the field and some need to figure out a way to survive away from the field.

Answer 2

I'm assuming that you're saying that the two tribes go to war over the potatoes that have just arrived.

There are other ways to settle this problem, but none of them ensure the survival of your own. The one you mentioned is a simplistic form of communism. We know how that well works.

Another avenue would be to feed several strong warriors from each tribe and send them to the other side of the mountain to bring more potatoes back. However, then you run the risk of leaving both tribes with less warriors to protect them in case of ambush. And what if the warriors get to the other side and the potatoes are rotten? Then both tribes die unless they can find food elsewhere and fast. Or those warriors get killed and never make it back?

I'll probably get bombarded for this, but it's like when I hear that we, the United States, are at war with Iraq because of oil. And this is stated as if it should be offensive. Most people who say this equate oil to money and money to rich people. They don't complete the thinking process.

Imagine what would happen, not only here in the states, but all over the world, if a tyrannt were to have control over the majority of the oil resouces and that oil wasn't available to the US, or 10 times higher than what it is now? Think of the businesses and factories that would close and leave millions of people without work. Do we realize how much we depend on this resourse? How many products in our homes are petroleum based?

Crime would be rampant. This country would collaspe and take many others with it. No matter how ugly war is, there are many reasons to go to war, and survival is one of them. Mankind has been at war since creation nearly. Without war, we Americans wouldn't enjoy the freedoms and lifestyles we have here.

Answer 3

Your question does not make sense. If, as you intimate, that getting the potatoes requires fighting, how did the original potatoes arrive or get there in the first place.Who fought? Which tribe? If, on the other hand, there is a chance to acquire the item in question by undertaking a hard and dangerous journey only, then, both tribes should pick 8 people, 4 from each tribe, stock them well and send them off to acquire more while the remainder of both tribes survive on the balance of the original potatoes and await the outcome from runners dispatched by the outgoing 8.

Answer 4

in a dangerous situation i quote myself.
In war everybody loses.

so I guess i would say no, this particular set of circumstances does not justify WAR.

Now i know this wasn't your question but still
Think about this,

If the two tribes merged and made a decision as to who should go without potatoes, there would not only be no war, but fewer deaths as a result of the hardship.

Now am i cold for suggesting that such a decision could/should be made?

Answer 5

wow, interesting scenario, has this ever happened with like the peace corps or something? it would be interesting to look into, it could be like a negative effect that the PC is having somewhere...as far as being a good enough cause, I would say so, if I was starving and hadn't had food in a long time though, I would be exhausted and weak and I wouldn't be able to fight that well...just an idea, hope it helps

Answer 6

Filter out the most fittest of both tribes and let the weak and old die. Merge both fittest people. Or, I'd say war, let the best/fittest win. IT is harsh but if I was in one of those tribes I would fight for my food and people first.

Answer 7

Either way, people are going to die, so what is the difference if you stab them to death or they starve to death? You could at least try to make something work.

Answer 8

Survival is always a good reason to go to war.

Answer 9

Humans have gone to war for much less.

Answer 10

fu***ng brilliant--reminds me exactly of viet nam, and the gulf wars, and all those yet to come; all of which are/were designed to make the war profiteers, and those interested in depopulation, yet happier and wealthier ;-)