The psychology of modern conflict : evolutionary theory, human nature and a liberal approach to war

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Title:

Author:

Payne, Kenneth, 1974- author.

ISBN:

9781137428585

Personal Author:

Payne, Kenneth, 1974- author.

Physical Description:

ix, 215 pages ; 23 cm

Contents:

1. Introduction Part I 2. Violence and Human Nature 3. Classical Realists on Honour Part II 4. Reciprocal Altruism 5. Honour Part III 6. Liberal Society and War 7. Liberal Warriors 8. Liberal War Stories Conclusion: Heroic Warfare

Abstract:

What does modern warfare have in common with our human evolution? In this study, Dr Kenneth Payne argues that there is an important relationship between the two - we have evolved to fight, and traditional hunter-gatherer societies were often violent places. But we also evolved to cooperate and to behave altruistically towards others. Both these evolutionary legacies can help explain how and why liberal societies fight. Payne considers the evidence for warfare in hunter gatherer communities, and explores how a process of 'domestication' some 10,000 years ago led to larger groups of more social and culturally sophisticated humans. He then considers how this über-sociability is manifest in liberal societies in the modern era, underpinning our sense of empathy and moral values.

Subject Term:

War (Philosophy)

War -- Psychological aspects.

Liberalism.

Copies:

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Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Copy	Status
Searching... 1:IIEMSA	1:GEN-BOOK	33168025777497	355.0019 P346P 2015	1	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

What does modern warfare, as fought by liberal societies, have in common with our human evolution? This study posits an important relationship between the two we have evolved to fight, and traditional hunter-gatherer societies were often violent places. But we also evolved to cooperate, to feel empathy and to behave altruistically towards others.