My own take on violence is that it's a natural—not to say beneficial—component of human genetics and its origin is to be found in our DNA. There are certain characteristics necessary for the survival of species and individuals in the absence of society and culture. Two of those genetic imperratives are a propensity for violence and a strong instinctual desire for reproductive behavior. These rank right up there with hunger and thirst as characteristics an animal without sharp teeth or claws or significant size and strength must have to survive.

The odd thing about the human species isn't it's propensity for violence, it's the ability to reason in complex abstractions. This ability to reason has allowed us to create culture, civilization, and societies whose common abstractions work to moderate the instinctive behavior of our prehistoric past. What it hasn't done is bring our genetic code in line with our societal norms.

Civilization is the process of modifying our instinctive behavior based on reason to achieve results that are more satisfying for the group. Part of civilization is the voluntary relenquishment by individuals of some of our instinctive behavior for the greater good. Much of human history and philosophy has been aimed at finding ways to help us let go of that instinctive behavior found to be disruptive in a civilized society. It doesn't mean we've changed our nature, simply that we develop the ability to control our insticts through reason and practice.

I think much of the violence we see today stems from two primary causes. One is that we've largely abandoned the philosophies that tended to value the group over the individual. Today we teach by lesson and by example that the individual is the ultimate abiter of good. Many believe that the interaction of totally self-interested individuals leads to a self regulating society in which each individual retains the maximum potential. In Western societies, this has led to a generation of adults who have largely abandoned ethical limits in favor individual advancement leaving those less able to compete to fall by the wayside.

The other primary cause of personal violence is simply people's willingness to give their genetic instincts free reign over their reason. It feels good to react in a rage to every little annoyance. It helps preserve the fiction that we are in control of something or someone. Children long to be like Superman and right wrongs through sheer unopposable force. Civilized adults have learned that there are ways to right wrongs without resorting to force. But if individuals haven't been properly led into adulthood and if the social mechanisms of control are denied to them, they can easily become violent. Violence is simple and satisfying in the short term. It allows the individual the feeling that action has taken place, that something tangible has been done.

The causes of violence are, I think, fairly easy to understand. What is far more complex is finding a way to stop it. Perhaps there is no way. Perhaps our self-destructive nature is simply a natural part of Lovelock's and Margulis' Gaia Hypothesis and life on Earth is still self-regulating.

      - Mark