Boredom can kill

Hello

Why does conflict continue to persist despite biological evolution, significant scientific progress, a globalized economy, and relative political and social stability across the world? The answer could be that at our core we have not completely shed our primeval habits.

Historically, conflict was needed for economic and social survival. Ancient empires including Rome, Greece, and Persia waged wars to acquire fertile land, spread religion, and secure essential resources such as water. However, these casus belli are less relevant in modern times because the world has stabilized territorial boundaries, mass industrial production and consumption, and freedom of religion.

But that doesn’t mean the instincts for dominance—and the animalistic impulses hardwired into us by millions of years of evolution—have completely perished. Studies suggest we are starting to dislike wars with flesh and blood, yet we may be becoming softer as conflict shifts into more subversive arenas such as espionage, trade wars, or diplomatic disputes over rare-earth minerals and technology, all within a creatively globalized, multipolar world. However, one solution to end conflict is to bring back the adventure of exploring.

When early explorers ventured into uncharted territories, they were driven by a deep-rooted desire for adventure, discovery, and expansion. The oceans and unknown lands offered opportunities for new resources and a sense of freedom. Today, the unknowns on Earth are largely gone, meaning our drive has limited outlets. But the rise of digital frontiers such as cyberspace and artificial intelligence—and the exploration of space—suggest that humanity’s search for new worlds to conquer is far from over.

With most frontiers now claimed, nations have limited options for asserting dominance, leading to more intense competition on Earth. This caging of ambition mirrors the behavior of animals in confined environments, where competition intensifies as space and resources grow limited. Colonizing other planets offers an exciting new frontier, potentially channeling our ambitious instincts toward shared goals. The Moon, Mars, and beyond could offer new territories, resources, and opportunities—all while requiring unprecedented collaboration, a scenario in which competition could give way to cooperative problem-solving, much like how social animals work together toward common objectives.

Imagine a future where nations no longer compete for military supremacy but instead focus on space exploration, scientific research, and technologies that support interstellar travel. By redirecting resources from warfare to peaceful exploration, we could channel our competitive instincts into constructive innovation—similar to how social animals redirect aggression into cooperative behaviors or rituals.

Of course, this vision is not without its challenges. Space colonization will demand groundbreaking technological advancements and unprecedented international cooperation. Questions of sovereignty, territorial claims, and resource distribution will need to be addressed, but these challenges present an opportunity to redefine humanity’s approach to growth and collaboration.

The journey into space is not just a scientific venture; it’s a deeply human one. It’s a test of whether we can transcend our primal urges for collective progress. As we embark on this shared adventure, the potential for peace, growth, and harmony could outweigh the ancient drive for conflict—but only if we consciously choose to let it. After all, while we are still animals, for now we are the only known species capable of reflecting on our nature and choosing to rise above it.

… In the year of ’39, assembled here the volunteers
in the days when lands were few ...

Thank you for reading.
White Mamba