When, why, and how did we, humans, develop our distinctive and paradoxical inclinations for both war and peace? This groundbreaking book investigates that central question by drawing on cutting-edge research and an unprecedented range of evidence from thirteen disciplines: biology, primatology, comparative ethology, behavioural ecology, anthropology, archaeology, criminology, social psychology, linguistics, demography, genetics, neuroscience, and climatology. The book shows how the capacities for both war and peace co-evolved gradually over millions of years through a mosaic-like pattern, with distinct but interacting components emerging at different moments and becoming integrated over evolutionary time. This deep-rooted trajectory has been shaped by feedback loops among biological, cultural, and environmental forces. With its expansive temporal horizon, cross-species comparisons, and empirical richness, this book offers a sweeping new account – and an indispensable resource – for anyone interested in the origins of the Janus-faced inclination for both war and peace in the human species.
