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WHAT: Digging Deeper XXVIII: Biological Human Nature: Implications for Warmongering and Peacemaking
WHO: Led by Ron Boothe
WHEN: Jan. 22 & 29 and Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26, 2007
WHERE: Mandolin Café, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, WA 98405

United for Peace of Pierce County Study Circle: January 22 & 29 and February 5, 12, 19, & 26, 2007

DIGGING DEEPER XXVIII: BIOLOGICAL HUMAN NATURE: IMPLICATIONS FOR WARMONGERING AND PEACEMAKING

Human history overflows with accounts of war, leading some to argue that war is part of human nature. This January and February 2007 study circle, led by psychologist Ron Boothe, will examine evidence from separate time spans—our own lives, our species, and our primate cousins and ancestors—and will conclude by considering a recent book arguing that people have evolved an ability to make moral judgments independently of experience and education.

First, we’ll examine the experience of war over the recent history of our own lifetimes (the last several decades). Primary reading for this discussion will be a memoir by veteran New York Times war correspondent Chris Hedges:

· Chris Hedges, War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning (PublicAffairs, 2002; Anchor paperback, 2003). “This moving book examines the continuing appeal of war to the human psyche.” —Library Journal.

Optional additional reading for this topic is a memoir by Farley Mowat about his World War II experiences.

· Farley Mowat, And No Birds Sang (Little, Brown, 1979; Stackpole paperback, 2002). “This powerful, true account . . . evokes the terrible reality of war with . . . honesty and clarity.” —From the publisher.

Second, we’ll study the functions of war over the time span of human history and prehistory (the last million years or so). Primary reading for this discussion will be a book by the Canadian military historian Gwynne Dyer.

· Gwynne Dyer, War: The Lethal Custom (Carroll and Graf, 2005; paperback 2006; orig. ed. Random House, 1987). “New edition of a seminal book . . . Dyer is an accomplished military historian.” —Publishers Weekly.

Optional additional reading is the (highly recommended) encyclopedic tome by evolutionary biologist Jared Diamond:

· Jared Diamond, Gun, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies (W.W. Norton, 1998; paperback 1999; new edition 2005). “Most of this work deals with non-Europeans, but Diamond's thesis sheds light on why Western civilization became hegemonic.” —Library Journal.

Third, we’ll explore the biological roots of war and peacemaking by examining the evidence from our closest living relatives, the chimpanzees and bonobos (separated from humans for about 5,000,000 years). Primary reading will be a book by Ron Boothe’s former colleague in the Psychology Department of Emory University, Frans de Waal:

· Frans de Waal, Our Inner Ape: A Leading Primatologist Explains Why We Are Who We Are (Penguin, 2005; Riverhead paperback, 2006). “Drawing on his own primate research on chimpanzees and bonobos-our closest animal relatives-[the noted primatologist] shows how much we can learn from them about ourselves: our qualities of ‘fellow feeling and empathy’ as well as our power-obsessed, violent side.” —Publishers Weekly.

Optional additional reading about peacemaking behavior in monkeys (separated from humans for about 20,000,000 years):

· Frans de Waal, Peacemaking among Primates (Harvard University Press, 1989; reprint, 1990). “Balances previous studies on aggression by examining the role of reconciliation.” —Library Journal.

Finally, we’ll consider a recent volume by Harvard’s Marc Hauser, who argues that human beings have evolved a moral instinct enabling judgments of right and wrong independent of experience and education:

· Marc Hauser, Moral Minds: How Nature Designed Our Universal Sense of Right and Wrong (Ecco, 2006). “Marc Hauser's eminently readable and comprehensive book [combines] his own cutting-edge research with findings in cognitive psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, economics, and anthropology.” —Publishers Weekly.

DIGGING DEEPER meets every Monday from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Mandolin Café, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, WA.

Participation is free. Some books available for lending or purchase. Information: contact Mark Jensen (jensenmk@plu.edu; 253-535-7219).