Possibilities of violence skills to avoid it: on warfare and its absence in traditional micronesia (original) (raw)

Violence and Human Nature: Nature vs. Nurture

The End of War is a compact, yet compelling, read by John Horgan that provides the reasons behind conflict amongst human beings. His main arguments can be divided into three over-arching categories. First, Horgan points out that human genes overlap more with bonobos than chimpanzees. (pg. 39) This fact debunks the myth that humans are innately violent and establishes that it is the circumstances that lead to wars and conflicts. (pg. 95) Second, he asserts that war will end for scientific reasons but it ought to be ended for moral reasons. (pg. 19) Lastly, he points out that war is a choice humans make; therefore they are as likely to be peaceful as violent. This can be backed up by the finding that the origins of warfare only date back by 13000 years. (pg. 186) This illustrates that war has not been present since the origin of human existence. As such, "war is not something that happens to us.

How old is human brutality? On the structural origins of violence.

Common Knowledge 22 (1): 81-104, 2016

To understand in any depth contemporary instances of human brutality, it is necessary to explore the long-term historical dynamics of the human relationship with violence. Given the paucity of evidence, much of the scholarship remains sharply divided over the question, How old is human violence? Despite disagreements, where some scholars regard humans as intrinsically violent and others emphasize their nonviolent characteristics, there is a pronounced tendency to rely, from both of these perspectives, on a simple naturalist epistemology. What is needed, at this stage of the controversy, is an alternative interpretation focusing on the structural foundations of violent action. If, instead of tracing violent (or nonviolent) behavior to "human nature," we assume that the origins of violence are linked to the rise and proliferation of complex social organizations, we may come to more far-reaching and significant conclusions.

Evolutionary theories of violent conflict, bellicosity and radicalization

2024

Changing patterns of warfare require a revision of our theories of psychological mechanisms behind violent conflict. The article explains some evolutionary theories that can improve our understanding of the deep-rooted psychological mechanisms behind bellicosity, radicalization, escalation, and cultural changes related to war. An evolutionary theory called regality theory explains why collective danger can lead to political and religious radicalization and move a culture in an authoritarian, bellicose, and undemocratic direction. This theory also reveals why both terrorism and counterterrorism tactics are likely to be counterproductive. Biological theory of sexual selection explains why, historically, most warriors and war leaders have been men. A combination of these theories explains the psychological and cultural mechanisms that leaders and military strategists have exploited in the tactics of false flag attacks and other deceptive manipulations of fear. The territorial peace theory explains why democracy cannot be imposed by military means. This kind of causal theories can be very useful for conflict and peace research and for peacemaking.

The Limits of Culture? Society, Evolutionary Psychology and the History of Violence

Cultural and Social History 4, no. 1 2007: 95-114 (+Responses), 2007

Recent debates about the meaning and role of cultural history have focused on the relationship between 'culture' and 'society'. Some have taken this opportunity to position cultural history as a site of resistance to 'biological' explanations of human behaviour. In contrast, this article argues that 'biological' methodologies -particularly the perspectives of evolutionary psychology -can usefully contribute to the historical understanding of culture and social development. To this end, it outlines the fundamentals of Darwinist psychology, suggests options for interdisciplinary cooperation and uses the topic of interpersonal violence to explore the potential for uniting cultural, social and evolutionary psychological methodologies.