War Is Not Innate to Humanity—A More Peaceful Future Is Possible, Says Historical Anthropologist This post is also available in: Spanish, French, Italian Rock paintings in Tadrart Acacus region of Libya dated from 12,000 BC to 100 AD (Image by WikiCommons) Brian Ferguson’s research on the origins of war, going back to the beginning of human history and our closest ape relatives, suggests war is not part of our evolution. By April M. Short War and all of its brutality is attention-grabbing and memorable. Recollections of war and conquests tend to stick around and take up the spotlight in historical records. However, a war-centered narrative paints an incomplete picture of human history—and human nature. While there is a popular opinion in the anthropological community that war is an evolutionary, inborn tendency of humans, there is also pushback to that theory. There is a growing argument for a human history that predates war altogether and further points out that war is not innate to human nature, but instead, is a social and cultural development that begins at certain points around the globe.