Why do we go to war...

Curious what others say about both internal and external war, I came across this dialogue between Einstein and Freud discussing ideas on why humans go to war...

Please note, this was written with the assistance of AI, and so use it as a springboard for your own curiosity, and as always, check for yourself.

What a privilege to hear the perspective of two great men, discussing ideas on war, only 6years before the start of WW2:

Why War? Freud and Einstein on the Roots of Violence and the Path to Peace

In 1932, physicist Albert Einstein and psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud engaged in a remarkable correspondence at the invitation of the League of Nations. Einstein posed a timeless question: "Is there any way of delivering mankind from the menace of war?" What followed was a profound interdisciplinary exchange exploring the psychological, biological, and cultural roots of violence, and possible paths toward peace.

⚔️ Einstein's Challenge

Einstein, a known pacifist, wondered why humanity seemed bound to cycles of war, despite our capacity for reason and cooperation. He speculated that:

• Violence may have instinctual origins.

• Leaders exploit propaganda and group identity to incite war.

• Education, international cooperation, and rational institutions could offer solutions.

But he admitted: science alone had not provided answers.

🧠 Freud's Response: The Death Drive

Freud responded with a sobering yet nuanced analysis grounded in his theory of dual instincts:

• Eros (Life Drive): Oriented toward love, unity, creativity, survival.

• Thanatos (Death Drive): Oriented toward destruction, aggression, and a return to an inorganic state.

  
  

Key Insights from Freud:

1. Aggression is Innate

   Humans are driven by internal forces toward domination, cruelty, and destruction. War externalizes these unconscious drives.

2. Culture Both Represses and Amplifies

   Civilization suppresses aggression, but this repression creates inner tension and neurosis, which can erupt as violence.

3. Group Psychology Undermines Morality

   In groups, individuals project disowned aggression onto enemies, losing individual conscience in favour of collective identity.

4. Toward Peace: Law and Love

   Freud believed in two mechanisms that could gradually reduce violence:

   • Strengthening international legal institutions with real power.

   • Expanding identification and empathy beyond tribal boundaries—through what he called the "binding power of love."

     
     

🌿 Themes and Modern Relevance

Theme	Freud & Einstein's View
Instinct vs. Civilization	Violence is instinctual; culture must redirect it constructively.
Projection	Groups justify violence by projecting unwanted traits onto others.
Inner Conflict	Repressed aggression leads to neurosis and societal tension.
Empathy Expansion	Peace depends on widening emotional identification with others.
Legal Authority	Only a legitimate global authority can effectively restrain mass violence.

🌟 Selected Quotes

"Why does man have such a lust for hatred and destruction?"— Albert Einstein

"Man has in him an active instinct for hatred and destruction... and consequently for cruelty."— Sigmund Freud

"Anything that encourages the growth of emotional ties between men must operate against war."— Sigmund Freud

💡 Application Today

• In Therapy: Understanding inner conflict and projection helps transform personal and interpersonal aggression.

• In Politics: Promotes empathy-based policies and the importance of neutral mediating institutions.

• In Education: Encourages emotional development, peace education, and critical thinking about identity and power.

This timeless exchange reminds us that the struggle between our constructive and destructive impulses is not only personal—it's planetary.

Originally published in 1933 as "Why War?" by the League of Nations' Institute of Intellectual Cooperation.