into constellations of mutually shared value systems—people come together,
altering and modifying their own personal narratives until their narratives are
one and the same, and the personal identity thus becomes the group identity.
“Now, you may be saying, ‘But, my good man, Newton! Don’t most
people value the same things? Don’t most people simply want a bit of bread
and a safe place to sleep at night?’ And to that, I say you are correct, my
friend!
“All peoples are more the same than they are different. We all mostly
want the same things out of life. But those slight differences generate
emotion, and emotion generates a sense of importance. Therefore, we come to
perceive our differences as disproportionately more important than our
similarities. And this is the true tragedy of man. That we are doomed to
perpetual conflict over the slight difference.^43
“This theory of emotional gravitation, the coherence and attraction of like
values, explains the history of peoples.^44 Different parts of the world have
different geographic factors. One region may be hard and rugged and well
defended from invaders. Its people would then naturally value neutrality and
isolation. This would then become their group identity. Another region may
overflow with food and wine, and its people would come to value hospitality,
festivities, and family. This, too, would become their identity. Another region
may be arid and a difficult place to live, but with wide-open vistas connecting
it to many distant lands, its people would come to value authority, strong
military leadership, and absolute dominion. This, too, is their identity.^45
“And just as the individual protects her identity through beliefs,
rationalizations, and biases, communities, tribes, and nations protect their
identities the same way.^46 These cultures eventually solidify themselves into
nations, which then expand, bringing more and more peoples into the
umbrella of their value systems. Eventually, these nations will bump up
against each other, and the contradictory values will collide.
“Most people do not value themselves above their cultural and group
values. Therefore, many people are willing to die for their highest values—for
their family, their loved ones, their nation, their god. And because of this
willingness to die for their values, these collisions of culture will inevitably
result in war.^47
“War is but a terrestrial test of hope. The country or people who have
adopted values that maximize the resources and hopes of its peoples the best
will inevitably become the victor. The more a nation conquers neighboring
peoples, the more the people of that conquering nation come to feel that they
deserve to dominate their fellow men, and the more they will see their