Is war a solution to our problems?

Question from the Internet:

“Why do humans always try solving problems with wars?”

Although war seems like a “historic solution” to the most significant problems, it is a desperate escape from the dead-end we usually find ourselves when our actual civilization collapses.

We can see the recurring pattern through the helplessly recurring vicious historical cycles.

Of course, there are constant conflicts and skirmishes while civilization develops according to the power structure of that civilization, each more powerful nation or alliance trying to position themselves in the most favourable positions.

But the great, most devastating wars come at the end of the collapsing civilization when leaders have run out of any other viable alternatives.

From the leaders’ point of view, a war serves many “positive” functions. It trims the growing population, invigorates industry through arms sales and rebuilding after the physical devastation, and prepares the new power structure for the next civilization.

We are in this civilization-ending period right now, and the most powerful nations are already positioning themselves for the next world war to fulfil the above goals for themselves. The “problem” is that a potentially nuclear world might wipe most of humanity out, with only a handful of people surviving.

Then those handfuls of people will need to understand that we can prevent these constantly worsening vicious cycles only when we change ourselves and how we relate to each other.

Of course, if we are wise, we could start willingly and proactively changing ourselves by learning to behave and exist above and against our inherently selfish, egocentric, exploitative nature. But this requires conscious recognition of our inherent nature and the humble willingness to change ourselves instead of trying to blame, correct, change or destroy others.