by Meghan E. Smith Print Cite Feedback 44 Inside this Article
What was the most peaceful time in history? Peace: Another Roman Innovation? The Mongols: Fearsome Hordes, or Bringers of Peace?
Peace in Our Time Lots More Information See all Modern Era articles
Peace in Our Time
There's still another era to consider: the one we're living in right now. Certainly, there's no shortage of war around the world, not to mention famine, disease and economic struggle. However, some analysts believe that despite these shortcomings, the world as a whole is relatively more peaceful now than it ever has been before.
Evolutionary psychologist Steven Pinker believes that violence has declined sharply since the birth of the human race. When talking about violence, Pinker isn't just referring to war -- he also includes criminal punishment and murder rates, among other instances. Compared to our hunter-gatherer days, or the Middle Ages, our chances of dying by violent crime or as the result of war are miniscule [source: Zuckerman]. Pinker believes there are a few different reasons for this, all of which contribute to an overall more peaceful existence: Stable governments provide mediation and deterrent for violent conflict. Technological innovations enable us to establish symbiotic relationships with groups who might once have been our enemies. Advancements in health care have allowed us to place a greater value on life. Our awareness of the rest of the world -- greater now than ever before -- cultivates empathy and makes us more likely to help than hurt other populations.
Cooperative alliances between countries, such as the United Nations and the European Union, also represent an increase in trust and good faith. Sharing military responsibility for international conflicts, implementing a common currency and establishing international tribunals all point to a desire for stability and peace. Vaccines and other medical innovations have improved our quality of life, and education is available to more people than ever before.
Despite all the drawbacks of modern living, we really are living in the most peaceful time in recorded history. But remember, it's all relative. Even more peaceful days may be yet to come.
May 12, 2011 10:47 AM CST do you agree with this artical ? Peace in Our Time
TrueBlue1986Sale, South Manchester, Cheshire, England UK1,322 Posts
TrueBlue1986Sale, South Manchester, Cheshire, England UK1,322 posts
'The question whether world peace will ever be possible can only be answered by someone familiar with world history. To be familiar with world history means, however, to know human beings as they have been and always will be. There is a vast difference, which most people will never comprehend, between viewing future history as it will be and viewing it as one might like it to be. Peace is a desire, war is a fact; and history has never paid heed to human desires and ideals.
Life is a struggle involving plants, animals, and humans. It is a struggle between individuals, social classes, peoples, and nations, and it can take the form of economic, social, political, and military competition. It is a struggle for the power to make one’s will prevail, to exploit one’s advantage, or to advance one’s opinion of what is just or expedient. When other means fail, recourse will be taken time and again to the ultimate means: violence. An individual who uses violence can be branded a criminal, a class can be called revolutionary or traitorous, a people bloodthirsty. But that does not alter the facts. Modern world-communism calls its wars “uprisings,” imperialist nations describe theirs as “pacification of foreign peoples.” And if the world existed as a unified state, wars would likewise be referred to as “uprisings.” The distinctions here are purely verbal.'
Oswald Spengler - first published in the Cosmopolitan.
One is not saying the world will ever be free of war but hopeful in time there will be less need for it and the article takes into account crimes, uprising and other things. History can only tell you so much about the future. Life evolves so can the nature of man.
May 12, 2011 11:21 AM CST do you agree with this artical ? Peace in Our Time
TrueBlue1986Sale, South Manchester, Cheshire, England UK1,322 Posts
TrueBlue1986Sale, South Manchester, Cheshire, England UK1,322 posts
WEIRDandWHITTY: One is not saying the world will ever be free of war but hopeful in time there will be less need for it and the article takes into account crimes, uprising and other things. History can only tell you so much about the future. Life evolves so can the nature of man.
The best indicator of future behaviour is past behaviour.
Yes but given the right set of conditions, behaviours hopefully like genes can mutate :) into peace loving zombies? but seriously there have been times of reasonable peace and if we can sort out issue of resources and class we be getting very close
Report threads that break rules, are offensive, or contain fighting. Staff may not be aware of the forum abuse, and cannot do anything about it unless you tell us about it. click to report forum abuse »
If one of the comments is offensive, please report the comment instead (there is a link in each comment to report it).
by Meghan E. Smith
Print
Cite
Feedback
44
Inside this Article
What was the most peaceful time in history?
Peace: Another Roman Innovation?
The Mongols: Fearsome Hordes, or Bringers of Peace?
Peace in Our Time
Lots More Information
See all Modern Era articles
Peace in Our Time
There's still another era to consider: the one we're living in right now. Certainly, there's no shortage of war around the world, not to mention famine, disease and economic struggle. However, some analysts believe that despite these shortcomings, the world as a whole is relatively more peaceful now than it ever has been before.
Evolutionary psychologist Steven Pinker believes that violence has declined sharply since the birth of the human race. When talking about violence, Pinker isn't just referring to war -- he also includes criminal punishment and murder rates, among other instances. Compared to our hunter-gatherer days, or the Middle Ages, our chances of dying by violent crime or as the result of war are miniscule [source: Zuckerman]. Pinker believes there are a few different reasons for this, all of which contribute to an overall more peaceful existence:
Stable governments provide mediation and deterrent for violent conflict.
Technological innovations enable us to establish symbiotic relationships with groups who might once have been our enemies.
Advancements in health care have allowed us to place a greater value on life.
Our awareness of the rest of the world -- greater now than ever before -- cultivates empathy and makes us more likely to help than hurt other populations.
Cooperative alliances between countries, such as the United Nations and the European Union, also represent an increase in trust and good faith. Sharing military responsibility for international conflicts, implementing a common currency and establishing international tribunals all point to a desire for stability and peace. Vaccines and other medical innovations have improved our quality of life, and education is available to more people than ever before.
Despite all the drawbacks of modern living, we really are living in the most peaceful time in recorded history. But remember, it's all relative. Even more peaceful days may be yet to come.