Classic Audiobook Collection Is War Diminishing by Frederick Adams Woods ~ Full Audiobook [history]
Dec 26, 2025
Frederick Adams Woods tackles the provocative question of whether war is diminishing in a historical context. The discussion includes the shift from frequency to magnitude of conflicts and critiques both militarist and pacifist arguments. The research showcases data trends in various countries, revealing Denmark's remarkably peaceful record and England's long history of war. The podcast invites listeners to reflect on the psychology of war, its evolutionary roots, and the implications of growing armies. It's a thought-provoking exploration of historical patterns and societal impacts.
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Skepticism Toward Pacifist Claims
- Woods critiques pacifists for assuming moral progress without checking facts.
- He insists moral aims must be tested against historical data, not wishful thinking.
Demand For Quantitative History
- Frederick Adams Woods argues most war/peace writing is subjective and lacks systematic data.
- He urges collecting factual dates of wars to test whether warfare is diminishing.
War As Group-Building Mechanism
- Woods presents militarism as a complex social ideal tied to group survival and leadership.
- He argues conquest and national competition have shaped dominant races and institutions.