Aggression, outbreaks of violence and brutal wars seem to be part of being human. But that doesn’t mean that biological evolution has endowed us humans with a propensity for violence.
On the contrary: Before our ancestors settled down, they mostly lived peacefully with or next to each other. When conflicts arose, they avoided each other.
The archaeologist Harald Meller, the historian Kai Michel and the biologist Carel von Schaik create an image of humanity that at first glance contradicts Darwin’s theory of evolution. For them, one thing is certain: humanity’s success story is not based on the fight of everyone against everyone, but on peaceful cooperation. Teamwork made Homo sapiens the superior species.
The three authors use numerous examples from history to explain why such peace-loving creatures fought against each other. It began when small groups of hunter-gatherers settled in places particularly suitable for hunting or fishing. Those who had regular sources of food had an advantage. This aroused the envy of the neighbors. Anyone who had nothing wanted to get it, if necessary by force. And those who had something to defend took up arms. The development of agriculture, the spread of patriarchy and the emergence of the first civilizations encouraged violent behavior. As is conclusively demonstrated, this development is not an inevitable result of biological evolution, but rather the product of human culture.
The collaboration between the three authors brings together a lot of specialist knowledge from different areas. They write objectively and mostly understandably. They carefully base their theory of peace-loving people on archaeological finds and historical sources, supplemented by results from behavioral research. Her book offers hope at a time when wars seem inevitable. If we humans are responsible for our actions, then we can overcome the excesses of war and violence. Michael Long
Harald Meller, Kai Michel, Carel van Schaik
The evolution of violence
Why we want peace but wage wars. A human story
dtv, 368 p., € 28,–
ISBN 978-3-423-28438-7