Roots Of War And Terror

Since the dawn of history, and probably a good deal longer, human beings have enthusiastically ganged up together in order to maim and kill other people in pursuit of their own economic, political and religious objectives. In the past, this murderous activity contributed to the success of our species by selecting the fittest males, and promoting the evolution of our brains and the development of human consciousness. But now that we possess biochemical and thermonuclear weapons it has become our greatest liability, threatening the very existence of our civilization and the survival of life on our planet. So why do we do it? And can it ever be stopped?

Anthony Stevens is a graduate of Oxford University. In addition to a Doctorate in Medicine, he was two degrees in Psychology, and is a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists