Why are human beings so endlessly violent?

Question

Its got us where we are today but by God has there has been some casualties

Answer 1

Humans like to think of themselves as separate from the rest of the animal kingdom, and indeed we are considerably more clever at tool-making than the other animals. And yet, many or most humans are still emotional, instinctual creatures who use rational thought only when it serves them to do so, and sometimes not even then. We may be the most highly evolved animals on this planet, but "highly evolved" only in relative terms, not absolute. As a species, we are still quite immature and primitive in our thinking.

Answer 2

Most humans are not violent, but the ones that do initiate force must be retaliated against.

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." -- John Stewart Mill

Answer 3

Of course, I agee humans can be violent, but we are straying away from that nature with every new year.
We may be fighting Iraq and Iran, but it is for the greater good, and doesn't even compare to the wars we have had in the past.
I think we are getting more peacefull. I never read about hippies in the 1300's.

Answer 4

Because it appears to us, that man always wants the easy way out and it is actually easier to be bad, evil, violent than it is to be good, considerate and in control and tolerant. It looks as if we have a longer road to travel as a whole, til we learn how to NOT be violent. Sad but true.

Answer 5

We are not violent.

Put enough of any species into a small room and you will get agression.

Too many rules, too many people on earth bringing all the complexities of this out of control planet and even then, i dont believe that humans are violent.

Answer 6

Humans are losing thier value of life. Not taking care of themselve, no hobbies to brighten up thier week, no exercise, working too hard and always eating crappy take out food because they can spend a little time to cook a nice meal.There is also such a strong 'I don't care' attitude society except when it comes to materialistic goods. If people wont take time to tend to themselves they wont really hold any value for others. They just want and aim to take by any means neccessary.

Answer 7

We rarely take responsibility for our thinking as a result many unpleasant emotion surface. When those emotions surface, violence seems the only answer.

If, for example, you believe that revenge can be justified then there will be a never-ending cycle of escalation and conflict. If you believe that the guilty should be punished, there will always be someone who is deserving of our wrath -- including violence punishments.

Answer 8

It's hard-wired into the species; there will always be wars, there will always be murder. We are made to conflict; without conflict there would be no drama or comedy, no plays or movies.

Maybe some far off day we'll be able to selectively breed it out of ourselves to survive as a species...but I doubt it.

Answer 9

Read Rene Girard in regards to his theory of the origins of human culture in a primordial act of violence.

Answer 10

Natural instinct

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Cultural conditioning (much of contemporary mass media culture promotes the use of violence by considering it legitimate to resolve a lot of issues)

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Social and economical unrest

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Endless violence