This entry examines symbolic derivatives of three agonistic (aggressive) survival strategies that have the potential to escalate into wars. The three agonistic survival strategies are hunting and obtaining resources (otherwise called assertiveness or goal achievement), competition and struggle, and defense and fight. These survival strategies have played out in ever more complex and symbolic ways as civilization became more complex.

Arthur Koestler reasoned that most of the recently evolved (fore)brain that dealt with higher mental functioning grew after birth when infants were susceptible to imprinting of experience and imagination. Humans became susceptible to imaginary creations and magical thinking as well as to confusions of symbols and reality. According to Koestler, beliefs in magical symbols explain the unique irrationality of human destructiveness.

Paul Valent described three dimensions through ...

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