Positive change arises from competing destructive forces. This phenomenon is what I think about late at night on the pillow and early in the morning under the shower-head. Does it apply to biology? Natural selection: those strong enough to survive challenges reproduce and ultimately "improve" the species in a given environment. Check. International relations? Nations and cultures that are influential enough to survive conflict will grow and flourish. Those that do not improve are lost to oblivion. Check.
These subject areas may seem at odds, but in my mind they are very similar. In the world, governments exist as individuals, and an infinite number of variables determines whether those institutions live to pass influence or die out. Biological systems are reliant on cooperation and organization, but are imperfect and are subject to failure. The common theme? Conflict breeds competition, and competition allows for improvement. In writing this blog, I intend to explore the paradox of improvement via conflict by examining the macro and micro ends of the spectrum: conflicts between great nations and cultures, and conflicts confined to an individual's mind.
So.... what is conflict?
History is riddled with great wars, from the legendary Battle of Troy to the present fighting in the Middle East and southwest Asia. We call this, "conflict".
Across the world, cultures impose ideas and traditions upon one another, challenging the others around them. We call this, "conflict".
At a party, a high school student faces the choice of abandoning his principles or his friends. We call this, "conflict".
Conflict is embedded in all life, human and otherwise. As lifeforms increase in complexity, so too do the battles they fight. Plants fight for nutrients; animals fight for nutrients and mates; humans fight for life, liberty, and the rest. The natural world evolved off of a foundation of competition, making conflict present at every level of organization.
The conclusion, "conflict is inevitable," may sound gloomy, but it really is anything but. While wars are tragic, conflict between individuals is the driving force behind science, technology, and the entire Capitalist system. Understanding the conflicts that plague people and our organizations will further our understanding of human behavior, and hopefully will help us answer some of the deeper questions we hold about our lives.
"I exhort you also to take part in the great combat, which is the combat of life, and greater than every other earthly conflict" - Plato
So.... what is conflict?
History is riddled with great wars, from the legendary Battle of Troy to the present fighting in the Middle East and southwest Asia. We call this, "conflict".
Across the world, cultures impose ideas and traditions upon one another, challenging the others around them. We call this, "conflict".
At a party, a high school student faces the choice of abandoning his principles or his friends. We call this, "conflict".
Conflict is embedded in all life, human and otherwise. As lifeforms increase in complexity, so too do the battles they fight. Plants fight for nutrients; animals fight for nutrients and mates; humans fight for life, liberty, and the rest. The natural world evolved off of a foundation of competition, making conflict present at every level of organization.
The conclusion, "conflict is inevitable," may sound gloomy, but it really is anything but. While wars are tragic, conflict between individuals is the driving force behind science, technology, and the entire Capitalist system. Understanding the conflicts that plague people and our organizations will further our understanding of human behavior, and hopefully will help us answer some of the deeper questions we hold about our lives.
"I exhort you also to take part in the great combat, which is the combat of life, and greater than every other earthly conflict" - Plato
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