The Next Big Idea Daily Are We Wired for War?
Nov 11, 2025
In this engaging discussion, neuroscientist Nicholas Wright, who has advised the Pentagon, explores how our brains influence both warfare and peacemaking. He argues that the same neurological mechanisms that guide our survival strategies also shape our decisions in conflict. Geeta Monaktala, Editorial Director at MIT Press, shares insights from The New Fire, illustrating AI's dual potential for innovation and destruction. Together, they delve into the interplay of human cognition, AI ethics, and the challenges democracies face in the modern world.
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Brains Built For Survival Shape War
- Human brains evolved survival machinery like fear, pain, and simulation maps that shape warfare decisions.
- Nicholas Wright argues these same systems also guide everyday cooperation, competition, and moral choice.
Common Theories On War Fall Short
- Popular theories on war (pure pacifism, blind optimism, or raw militarism) are incomplete and risky.
- Wright insists understanding the brain is essential to preventing or winning wars responsibly.
Blitzkrieg Shows Will Beats Numbers
- Wright contrasts 1940 France and Germany to show how willpower and shock tactics beat superior matériel.
- He uses Blitzkrieg to illustrate how harnessing brain-driven daring and creativity altered outcomes.
