Excerpt from The American Journal of Sociology, 1923, Vol. 28

Nevertheless one cannot fail to recognize that the very power of the warlike tradition itself must be due to the fact that it not only was, but is, compatible with certain elements in human nature. Men, and women also, display too keen an interest, as Professor Thomas has shown, i in Violent and precarious activities, to excuse the student of war in any neglect of its instinctive aspects, of which we must take account in the following section. There is room, however, to question whether the ruling classes went to the appall ing tasks of the world-war with quite as much zest for the gaming aspect of it as they had, according to Professor Thomas, displayed toward the spanish-american and Boer wars, which have been reduced, in our new perspective, to very slight skirmishes indeed. Moreover, we should not assume, in any case, too much rigidity about human nature itself. Old dispositions may be directed toward new Objects, and the particular character of these Objects can be partly determined by deliberate reorganization of cultural elements, such as traditions, ideals, and institutions.

When one turns from these over-simple interpretations Of war, and seeks to supplement them by a more prolonged search, it is found that its roots are not one but many. They bear at the same time such diverse fruits as hatred and love; the ruthless destruction of others and the utterly reckless sacrifice Of one's own life for others; the constant interchange of murderous missiles, and the occasional exchange, between the very same men, of songs, newspapers, and tobacco - all these and other strange and illogical anomalies.

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