The Biology of Peace and War: Men, Animals and Aggression

by Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt

Ethologist Eibl-Eibesfeldt's controversial brief argues the case for man's innate aggressiveness and stresses that man's acknowledgement of his violent tendencies could lead to a new evolution, one directed by reason

Genres: Psychology

294 pages, Hardcover

First published August 31, 1979

About the author

Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt was an Austrian ethnologist in the field of human ethology. In authoring the book which bears that title, he applied ethology to humans by studying them in a perspective more common to volumes studying animal behavior.

Reviews

[D.A. Cairns · Rating 4 out of 5]

A balanced discussion of the causes and effects of aggression and war in the animal kingdom and in humans. The author suggests that aggression is not necessarily a bad thing, but looking at how it operates with animals and with humans. A very technical book with a lot of scientific language and references to numerous other works on the subject, both those which support the author's point of view and those which do not. It features very detailed case studies, diagrams and charts much of which stems form the author's own research. A very convincing and well argued, albeit humanistic, essay on a very fascinating topic..

Eibl-Eibesfeldt makes an important distinction between the 'fighting' which occurs among animals and that which occurs among humans by saying that the latter is usually destructive. He is hopeful of mankind evolving into a more peaceful species despite the contradictory evidence of history. He suggests that most sane people want peace but they don't really know how to achieve it.He offers no solutions to this fundamental problem of human nature.

Well worth the read if the subject matter interests you, and you are prepared for very sophisticated language which expresses very sophisticated ideas.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eibel-Eibesfeldt is a leading ethologist, including human ethology. His application of evolutionary theory to human behavior is well respected in academic circles. Here, he applies this perspective to peace and war. I am not sure that I am convinced, but it is a work that engenders thinking about the issues raised. Hence, this remains a relevant work for those interested in the linkage of biology and questions of war and peace.