Are humans war-like? Does that make war inevitable?

Question

When I say war-like I mean is there some sort of genetic disposition that make us the savages that we are. Psycohlogists say that men are inherently violent. And, while hid in normal society, it needs an outlet provided by war.

From ancient times to today we always seem to be at war, if it be for power, territory, or the "War for peace". Will there ever be a stop to it or will human beings always be plagued by conflict and that conflict be resolved by war?

Answer 1

war is as natural as breathing and eating. its not just humans, even animals are often at war in their own ways, they are just not as populated as humans. there is always struggle for dominance, food and breeding ground. natures laws.

Answer 2

No it does not, and in fact we are hardwired to not kill each other. In a quote from an article on the human reluctance to kill:
"The reality is that the brains of human beings -- unless they fall within the demographic sliver we call psychopaths -- are hardwired not to kill other humans. Like rattlesnakes that fatally bite other species but fight fellow rattlers by wrestling them, humans overwhelmingly recoil from homicide. That's usually a good thing, because it prevents society from disintegrating into bloodthirsty anarchy."

Now if only society can engineer better politicians...

Answer 3

Yes, and no

Humans are conflict oriented and willing to kill for ideology.

Inevitability is not certain; we also have a rational mind and nobody with a rational mind would engage in violence just for the sake of violence.

If enough level headed rational folks end up in power, we might survive as a species; don't hold your breath.

Answer 4

Unfortunately, history has proven this time and time again and at the present it is proving it again. I won't limit it to men but people want power, money and to make their mark on the human race.

There are those that preach freedom as they are enslaving others. Rights, as they are taking away privileges. Free speech as they are silencing by any means necessary. Sensitivity as they are diabolically insensitive. Sharing, as they hoard. Truth as they lie.

I fear that these qualities are innately human.

Answer 5

i think of element of human nature is to get into communities persons and them and have some form of opposition. activities are a good occasion of this. yet i'm uncertain if that opposition must be conflict. form of like cats desire to chase small shifting products regardless of the undeniable fact that it does no longer propose they might desire to kill stuff. that's complicated. while components are scarce, human beings could have extra motivation to initiate scuffling with over them. Or they might team mutually to remedy the basic subject. while components are ample, human beings could have extra or a share and share-alike recommendations-set. Or they have extra power to initiate questioning approximately scuffling with. usually, human beings don't have interaction in fights that they do no longer think of they might win. And extra preparation approximately conflict and how lots it expenditures could make human beings leary of it. in line with danger mutual assured destruction does artwork. yet i assume my significant element is that persons and societies are complicated. And that's no longer ordinary to assert if wars are inevitable.

Answer 6

Not war-like more like punacious. They just love to fight or brawl. They really prefer it if things don't get smashed or people get hurt. Most are even willing to forgive and forget after a scuffle. It's when there is any kind of damage that they turn war-like. Then all hell breaks loose and they go for broke.

Answer 7

This is a composition fallacy.

Even if every individual is X, Y or Z , that doesn't determine the society to express the very same qualities.

All atoms are colorless, but when you stack them together into a tangible object... voila.

Answer 8

I think it boils down to a combination of self-righteousness and stupidity, and although males don't have a monopoly on those characteristics, they do seem to be at the root of the problem. The solution lies in better education and rejection of organized religion.

Answer 9

Just look at primates. They have battles with other troops, amongst themselves. etc...

So I would say we sometimes seek conflict as an answer. Whether out of frustration or that we honestly think it's the best answer, Im not sure.

Answer 10

It's not just humans, ALL living creatures live in a dog-eat-dog world. EXCESSIVE violence is usually the result of the suppression of naturally selfish instincts.