Can humans ever achieve total peace among themselves, or is it an unattainable dream?

Question

TheRealPepperPotts · Accepted Answer

Note: I am answering this question from a technical standpoint, not an ethical one. I am not advocating the end of personal agency, just processing how free will is an element of generating conflict. Determinism vs. agency is another discussion, as it is too complex to be summarized well here.

I think to attain total peace, genuine free will or personal agency has to be eliminated. The way I can see that happening is through technology, pharmaceuticals, and AI. We have the capability of controlling people chemically for as long as they have medication administered, and AI has the power to manipulate and influence belief, although we are still working out kinks. Our metadata is a huge piece of that puzzle because it informs and perfects AI.

Everything we do can eventually be predicted, and ergo, controlled. The question is, are we willing to surrender our agency in the name of world peace? It's a more relevant question than it ever has been before. There will be a demographic that will not, and those people will be considered a threat to humanity. It will likely be viewed as necessary to retire those people in some manner from society. But the other part to this is: Is it ethical to kill or incarcerate someone who refuses to surrender their individual free will for the sake of the greater good (i. e., world peace)?

There are those who argue that free will does not exist and we are sole products of our genetics and environment. In that respect, we would, in theory, not surrender our free will so much as we surrender our genetically- and environmentally-induced behaviors to a consensus. The trouble is, if we are all products of varied biological and environmental inheritances, who then is qualified to determine appropriate and acceptable behavior metrics for all of humanity? Food for thought.

Crimsyjo · Accepted Answer

No i don't think it is possible. For so many reasons. And it's not just humans. If you look at nature conflict is everywhere. Survival for food. Survival for your family or pack. Survival for the best territory. Maybe they do it "to survive" more than humans? But that drive to have, be and do better than others is deeply rooted in our evolutionary code.

We can only hope to have peace among our own groups (be it small family group or a nation or country).

ohsheeT · Accepted Answer

The world is changing so fast and I think we hit the peak of self destruction and we're starting to turn the corner I think people are finding themselves and understanding who they are in life who they want their children to be and the only way they're going to achieve that is by love and not being afraid to show who you truly are and that you love and that you care.

We have a government that has taken us downhill for a long time we have secret societies that run the government that own everything we're being programmed and we understand this and we're starting to fight back a little bit we will all change the world if you believe in God he will change the world is happening right now it'll probably get worse before it gets better but we are headed in that direction this is a good question thank you I believe we will achieve it one way or the other

HawkPerception · Accepted Answer

I believe it's definitely possible and may come sooner than we think. With the progression of AI, universal income may become a thing and once everyone's needs are met and we all live lives of luxury, I believe we'll focus more on the community and relationship building.

While I do think that day may come sooner than we think, I still doubt we'll live to see that day. All I know is that 50 years from now, the world will be a dramatically different place than it is now. In the 30 years I've been on this planet, it's already changed a ridiculous amount, but with AI speeding up the progression of technology and solutions to problems, things will change even faster than in those 30 years. It's scary, but I also somewhat look forward to it.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

There are 8 BILLION people on the planet. How do you remove the urge to conquer from every single one of them?

SotiCoto · Answer

If 99.99% of humanity were killed off... maybe.
Humans can only get along well with those they trust. They can only trust those they know. But population density is so high basically everywhere that nobody can trust the majority of people they see on a regular basis. And that is to say nothing of strangers on the Internet.

Simply put... the more people there are, the lower the possibility of them being able to get along in a civilised manner. It hits basically impossible somewhere around the 200 mark.

Anonymous · Answer

sure but it has to be done as a collective conscious effort

no selfishness, no personal agendas, everything is done for the greater good

and a return to traditional gender roles would fix everything too, less crime, less confusion, stronger sense of purpose, greater morals and therefore achievements

a few people doing this alone ain't gonna cut it

currently there's a huge war of the minds, to turn the population dumb and degenerate and therefore easier to control

right now for the resistance, the stupidest thing they can do is put down their sword and surrender... nah the hell with that

if you care about your family, your future and your legacy, you do everything you can to fight for it

strateguy632 · Answer

it is impossible.

if shops didn't lock doors at night people would take "for my family" as if justified or for greed.

greedy people send soldiers to take from others like kuwait war and ukraine war.

some wars were in the name of forced people to accept some religions.

as long as catholic n islam exist...

RebelinSteel · Answer

I believe it’s totally unattainable, greed, politics, religion, social classes, jealousy, etc all really prevent anything like total peace occurring. Even within the same religious group they are unable to readily live in peace together, then throw in money, greed, seeking power and it just gets worse. We can’t even stop simple things like shop lifting.

Staximus · Answer

Cavemen used to fight over caves and women. Tribal wars used to be fought over hunting grounds and other various things. There hasn't been peace since the beginning, just smaller groups of people fighting over stupid shit instead of while countries.

northerngal · Answer

Yes i think its possible... if you look at the present curve we are becoming a more peaceful world. I know it may not seem that way every time you watch the news but warfare is on the decline globally... hopefully this continues.

NaultD · Answer

No, and it's closer today than it's ever been.

The video I'm posting is about 10 years old, and it's basically the same old news today.

https://youtu.be/NbuUW9i-mHs?si=2RfOSHXkhHhqfCOD

If anything is new, the world leaders are dramatizing it as if it's new news, but they're still losing steam because it's decades-old news.

MisterWack · Answer

Unattainable due to culture wars, misinformation, letting biases get in the way, those empathizing with authoritarian regimes, us getting into arguments without wanting to reach common ground, letting religion/race/gender/ethnicity divide us all, etc.

I am willing to reach across the globe for a common good for humanity’s sakes, want every 8 billion other to do the same so we can achieve our goals of fixing the problems we all face today.

Jrg98 · Answer

In my case I’m searching I promise. I have a happy life out of what I can CONTROL but the things out of my control are what worries me and that’s why I’m gonna say no…

TonyMetal___86 · Answer

It's hard because people are different and not everyone wants peace!
We can for sure make our world a lot better that it is now, so making any step forward will be very important instead of falling deeper and deeper in the darkness!

exitseven · Answer

We have DNA that makes us always push against the world. It is a survival mechanism. We do not have to fight nature anymore so it manifests itself by making us miserable.

FreyaRed · Answer

Maybe if humanity is capable to interstellar travels and fight for resources and power becomes pointless, but this won't happen soon.

NathanDavis · Answer

a lack of peace is about the most human thing ever... without conflict, we lose our humanity and yes, that's unfortunate

Lynx122 · Answer

I don't think so. There's too many other struggles going on some of them will result in war eventually.

IslaTheWitch · Answer

not in the society we have now... there is too much greed and total disregard for the needs of others...

HappyWoman34 · Answer

I see it as unattainable, but I wish it wasn’t.

bowenw · Answer

It does not seem possible as we have been fighting over one thing or another for as long as history has been recorded.

Alex-Snow · Answer

It is nice to dream about but it has never happened in human history so I don't think so

ICanSmellTheCosmos · Answer

From a biological standpoint, competition drives genetic divergence and speciation.

handsomelad70 · Answer

As long as greed and bigotry are part of the human existence, total peace is an unattainable dream.

grega239 · Answer

I think its a fantasy.  Humans have waged war against one another since we figured out that stones can kill

KrakenAttackin · Answer

Not likely. There will always be competition for resources and fundamental differences in culture.

Juxtapose · Answer

There's 8 billion people, that's a pipe dream.

PeterLegg91 · Answer

Never EVER :( governments and religions will always get in the way

nawtee_me · Answer

Not n this life but in the one to come, thank God there is a mansion waiting for me…

Kelly6 · Answer

@laly520 Nope Humans are humans, wild

Still-alive · Answer

i personally think it CAN happen but we are far farrr away from that ever being a reality. I like to think Star Trek is our future lol

LaurenM1997 · Answer

I wish there was peace with wars 😞

Dongie · Answer

Not until Christ returns.

Jennz6 · Answer

I would hope so

LiamS95 · Answer

I doubt it because of greed

noohair · Answer

Yes, but it takes time. I am there.

HurremSultan · Answer

Impossible

edmwarrior · Answer

At this rate, I’d say never going to happen

impalabill77 · Answer

I hope so

Amur8711 · Answer

It's unobtainable

Can humans ever achieve total peace among themselves, or is it an unattainable dream?

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Is world peace possible?

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