Жолбов. Английский билеты. 4-5 курс / 5 курс Is aggression rooted in human nature

Is aggression rooted in human nature?

Human history is a history of wars. Since ancient times human tribes, human nations have waged wars against each other. A common opinion is that war is a part of human nature, and that war is usually caused by humans’ natural aggressiveness. Some experts think that we are like animals that have been always aggressive. Today politicians use this statement to justify their actions, pointing out that aggressiveness is one of the main causes of war.

I have seen a tv-programme about dogs and their aggressive behavior. The expert explains that even an animal can’t be aggressive by nature, except cases when it tries to defend itself. But he adds that it becomes a warlike creature due to wrong training. This expert says that he has already retrained many dogs changing conditions and showing another attitude towards them. It means that the environment is also very important.

To prove the idea I’d like to mention another research made by Mr. Leakey. It demonstrates that when humankind has first appeared, it has been “within a context of cooperation rather than competition”. Whereas Mr. Leakey states that cultural evolution may bring us closer to war and possible even destroy us: science and technology are tools in making war more destructive in a more efficient and remote way. This theory explains that modern war is more than just aggressive behavior. The conflicts of ants, wolves, monkeys, and chimpanzees do not involve the use of weapon, institutionalization or coordination of behaviour that are common to all human warfare.

To conclude I’d like to say that we are not condemned to war because of our biology. Instead, it is possible for us to end war. We cannot do it by working alone, but only by working together. War was invented in ancient times, and in the same way we can invent peace in our time. It is up to each of us to do our part, just trying to control ourselves.