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Philosophical Solutions to War

The famous global letter by popular Sigmund Freud after the first world war responds to

renowned physicist Albert Einstein’s questions on the causes and solutions to war. Freud

primarily detailed the history of war and later wrote his views on the eventualities of war,

suggesting three solutions to the delinquent of war. He examined the practicality of 'might and

right' as questioned by Einstein and stated that in the primitive era, war appeared to be the only

solution to the conflict. Freud argues that the implication of 'might' fundamentally entails

violence in settling conflicts in society, relying on physical power (Cohen 921). However, he

states that mental strength inevitably replaced physical strength in the advent of weapons in the

Stone Age. Additionally, Freud classifies the causes of war into two categories comprising of

material and psychological roots. In Why War, Freud studies the causes of war and examines

what he thinks can be temporary or permanent solutions to war.

Hence, Freud clarifies that the material reason for war constitutes the conflict of desires.

(Cohen 923) Certainly, on occasions when two parties or individuals want a common goal or

object simultaneously, one of the parties has to fail. The conflicting wants coupled with the greed

for achievement may instigate both parties to wars against each other, with the victor killing or

assimilating the opponent. Additionally, Freud examines psychological dominance as a causal

factor to war. He identifies that the human mind functions under the influence of two instincts,
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hadeotic or erotic forces. The hadeotic psychological force inspires destruction while the erotic

instincts are affective and encourage love among individuals. Thus, Freud presents that when the

hadeotic instincts dominate the erotic forces, individuals only desire war, constituting war's

psychological cause.

Consequently, acknowledging the causes of war, Freud attempts to recommend practical

solutions to the devastation (Cohen 927). He articulates that the advancement of culture against

war while utilizing the global organization to fulfill common interests constitutes only a

temporary solution to war. Freud further analyzes the development of culture and states the

significance of establishing a central authority and granting it absolute power in preventive war.

He notably emphasizes the essence of a central authority's co-existence and its possession of

power, stating the inefficiency of implementing one without considering both. Ultimately, Freud

astoundingly mentions the contentment of human desire as a strategy for preventing war. He

criticizes the idea that all human wants can be satisfied, thus preventing war endlessly.

According to Freud, the permanent solution to war is an illusion, and war can only be prevented

temporarily. Considering humans' psychological composition, the hadeotic and erotic forces, war

can not be prevented permanently. Thus, humans should accept war's eventualities, focus on

uniting humanity, and re-organize the world in post-war periods to order and harmony.

Work Cited
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Cohen, Mitchell, ed. Princeton Readings in Political Thought: Essential Texts since Plato-

Revised and Expanded Edition. Princeton University Press, 2018.