Is world peace possible?

Question

It seems to me that violence emanates from the very core of our beings. Violence is the number one form of entertainment. People love their guns and will shoot someone for just ringing their doorbell or pulling into their driveway. World peace is just a simple minded fantasy. It's more likely that we will extinguish ourselves and destroy the planet.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20121109-is-world-peace-possible

Investigator · Accepted Answer

"It seems to me that violence emanates from the very core of our beings."

Because it does. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are not so dissimilar from the Homo Erectus that preceded us. Several thousand or even millions of years of evolution have occured since then, but that does not mean we are more evolved. From a sociological perspective, people's environments primarily being large, concrete or wooden boxes is supposed to have the effect of separating us from nature; by not visibly seeing wild fauna or animals, or the like, the implication must be that we are more civilized, more erudite a species than those apparently "lesser forms of life"--we are not part of nature, we are outside of it and we therefore can observe it as self-aware onlookers not subject to it.

This is plainly not true, and nowhere is this more apparent than when large crowds of people are gathered together: the mass created from those many individuals congregating has the effect of creating a superorganism, that is less disciplined and more unruly than the sum of its parts. We may exist in sterile environments designed to facilitate our mental capabilities at the expense of our physicality, but we cannot extinguish primeval. Our environment cues are designed to mute our more base tendencies, but our nervous system is still built to function as if we are in the Serengeti, with all of its dangers and pitfalls, and we must be ever-vigilant of predators trying to kill us. Survival is not certain.

A large part of the drive for "logic and reasoning" to be the foundation of modern society is that many of the most austere thinkers of our times are forced to reconcile the fantasy of humans as "more than" with the reality that our bodies are simply not capable of overcoming animalism to any real degree. Modernity and post-modernity gives a glimpse of "what might be possible"--if only humans would "grow up" faster--but we have to discipline our bodies and our minds because we are not, in fact, those "more enlightened beings" we believe ourselves to be. We may have rules and laws, and religious and secular values, that we hold to dearly, on the presumption that these edicts will fast-track us to a paradise, a unified and peaceful utopia, but history has shown that it doesn't amount to much. We are still a long distance from world peace and it may actually be impossible. Too many variables and too much variety, to account for and calculate.

When push comes to shove, we are still savages, swinging a stick around wildly, in the vain hope of marking "our territory".

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Perfection is virtually impossible, but practical world peace certainly is possible. There are absolutely some humans holding humanity back in this regard.

Also, "people loving their guns" isn't a problem, using their guns maliciously is a problem. I know that you know that in a hypothetical world with world peace, guns can be present AND a love for guns can be present.

Keep in mind that bows and arrows were made to kill, and now, there are passionate communities that partake in target practice as a hobby/past-time/sport. In the same way, someone can love their guns and using them, just not in a malicious way.

There's also something to be said about wanting to be able to defend yourself NOT obstructing world peace. Having and using a gun to stop an intruder did not make the world less peaceful, that would be victim blaming. The fault should be placed on the intruder, not the victim.

Additionally, a vast majority of gun owners never use their gun maliciously. These people evidently, indisputably, are not contributing to the obstruction of world peace. I'd imagine this isn't news to you, so, with all due respect, I can't help but feel your attribution to "having and loving guns" being an obstruction to our mission towards world peace is purely an emotionally charged comment, rather than a logical one.

Hopefully we can consider our words more carefully in the future, as wrongful attribution will certainly solve no problems.

Siri137 · Accepted Answer

No, violence doesn't "emanate from our cores". People choose to be violent, to resolve issues through the use of it, but they don't have to.

"People love their guns and will shoot someone for just ringing their doorbell or pulling into their driveway"

Not in my country they don't. Stop projecting. Crap like this only happens in the U. S.

FreyaRed · Accepted Answer

No, some countries see wars as opportunity to increase their GDP and they will do anything to keep humanity in conflict.

D_Bone_Steak · Answer

It's not possible. Being at war with some "other" is built deep down inside us. You take a mass of people where there is no fighting and the humans will start making shit up to fight about.

People that don't have shit to do with shit will just start making shit up to be all pissy about. I want to illustrate all the current in-fighting here in America right now... I remember this stuff was rising up a while back and then the twin towers happened (9/11) and everything quieted down for a while. There was an "other" to fight all of a sudden and the in-fighting stopped for a little while. It really started creeping back hard during Oboma's second term. Then 2016 happened.

The in-fighting was back better than ever and is still going strong. Politicians tried to get us to ignite against an "other" again, but honestly, a lot of us see the shit-show on our own streets and we don't care about what Eastern Europe is doing... we want shit here fixed first before we try to be world police again. ... and on the other hand, we have another half totally about just going to war with Russia, because that's the "other" now.

We humans in general are non-stop conflict-finding/making machines.

king34 · Answer

It's not as simple as your making it seem your view is just backwards, people don't watch action movies because we want to murder people, we watch action movies because we imprint on that brave, courageous, heroic, valent main character thats helping and saving others. And we want to be that guy.

And then the getting shot for ringing a doorbell thing is just a dumb statement. Your just a pecimist.

Of course world peace is possible but I think it's so hard because ppeople are dumb (not evil) and because people in general are so gullible it allows one or 2 bad people at the top to become the puppet masters that bring out the worst in all of us, forcing us into tribalism and devision and manipulating us for their personal agendas and gain. Humanity's only crime is being dumb. But more of us wake up each day.

On a side note, i have a funny theory i think about some times. If every person on earth watched attack on titan and understood its message there would be no more war or tribalism at all.

jshm2 · Answer

You're too simple minded.

Most of the worlds violence is caused by peace. Simply because everyone's idea of peace is very different. Plus it usually involves killing/subjugating a section, people or group for the "betterment" of the idealistic whole.

That group tends to always fight back eventually.

Hence it's never a good idea to talk "world peace". You're in effect saying "If we kill off X then I, and those that back me, can be in charge and we can make your life better in our values."

BCA6010 · Answer

No.

If there were only two humans in the world, we'd find something to fight over.

You can have relative peace, which typically requires global prosperity to be even remotely feasible, because the overwhelming majority of world conflicts are over control of wealth and resources. Since large chunks of the world are actively cutting themselves off from resources, global unrest and civil wars are and will continue to increase.

Astarlessnightsky · Answer

Yes. At some point.

Look at the european union, before WWII there were always wars going on, France against England, Scotland vs. England, germany (or whats now germany) vs austria, ...

and now we got 80years of freedom, until russias invasion in the Ukraine. Something which never happened before.

EpicSnail · Answer

I think "world peace" is a very ambitious idea. Conflicts between humans will inevitably arise. The key is to keep them small. Here is how:

Unit1 · Answer

peace in society is kept with some enforcement just like waste treatment exists since we generate garbage and carbon footprint.

In terms of world peace like all nations getting along? We'll get that once all nation "leaders" stop aggressively having a dick swinging competition. But there always will be that someone.

Anonymous · Answer

No it’s not possible. Everyone has a different background, raised by different parents or non at all. Your idea of what is right may be different from my idea of what is right. All these things like transgenders, men in women’s sports, for or against guns, we all have a different opinion. Honestly I think religion is the biggest culprit of them all contributing to all this violence. People may not think so, but that too is also another reason why peace is not possible.

SirJohn42 · Answer

History seems to repeat itself.
You hear of war and rumors of war. Nation hating Nation. People hating people. can't have peace if there is evil on this earth. The only way for peace is when Jesus Christ comes back.
To know peace is truelly through him.

ShadezMcgee · Answer

Peace can be strive for, but ultimately, no. No peace or utopia will be had as long as people have different morals and values. The closest thing to peace will be communities of like minded individuals, but no majority will be had across the board.

Anonymous · Answer

I think it's possible if we discover life on another planet. Because we at our hearts are a barbaric species led by fear. I think if we discover another intelligent species it'll unite humanity. Because we'll have discovered a new threat to fear. A common enemy that will worth putting our petty jealousies aside to unite against.

strateguy632 · Answer

this question like: people who watch action films copy and stab everybody. that is not the cause. to understand the cause we need to hear what recruiters for war say.

Anonymous · Answer

Not with the mentality of people like most Americans.

MysticDevice · Answer

I like to think it is. But a lot of groups would rather kill others than help build civilization. Until they're gone world peace is just a noble dream.

Adam1978 · Answer

No voilence impossible with living people. Without wars, that should be possible.

ChillaxingLove · Answer

No. As long as humans are not perfect there will only be temporary peace.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

We were just about to get it `til Joe cheated in the last election!!

Luopio27 · Answer

We are not equal to each other. That is why world pesce is impossible.

Chthou95 · Answer

No and it will never will be. There will always bad things in the world as long as humanity is here

Skyros · Answer

Not in this version of earth, but in the new. Sadly, only a handful of people will get to experience that perfect world.

Anonymous · Answer

One world government if your an war but generally to with humans or really any prey animals left

jimmy2 · Answer

Are you kidding no but when Jesus comes back peace will be achieved

Anonymous · Answer

Yes it is, once mankind is gone or wiped out.

Agape93 · Answer

Of course it's possible, just not with us alive.

Dinosaursandanime65 · Answer

Peace yes but not on the World

Anonymous · Answer

People are getting worse so no.

Is world peace possible?

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