You’ve generated Food for thought. I always wonder when I watch kids play video games where they are killing masses of enemy and their avatar being killed only loses them a few points in a game. What are they learning? Will that affect them when they are faced with reality. I am from a generation before video games. I vividly remember the first time I pulled a trigger “ in anger.” I’ll admit I was slow on the uptake. It was a shock that a guy was trying to kill me. Then I pulled the trigger. Thank God I was a better shot, otherwise my hesitation would have been my last thought.
We have some of the world’s best warriors, so I guess we still have a seam of violence as part of our makeup as you suggest. I do wonder if we are breeding it out however as we further isolate and protect ourselves from nature. Sorry for rambling.
Thank you for sharing, Marshall. You get it. There is no telling what America is doing at present. To your point, we’re a land of extremes — the best warriors the world has ever know on the one hand and the most unprepared for violence and reality on the other. These are novel times.
Great article! I completely agree. Without violence, there would be no appreciation for peace, for good. We need the yin to define the yang. I would also say that the person who thinks they have no capacity for violence has obviously never been punched in the face😬 (or had their kids threatened, or had to protect their neighbor—both of which are sourced from compassion, not anger as violence is often attributed to).
Thank you, Jeff. You're hitting on the mama bear phenomenon. One of the paradoxical downsides of our exceptional safety is never having to go into mama bear mode. It is a blessing and a curse for so many. But the more we talk about it, hopefully the more it is thought about and the real preparation begins.
Without a doubt. It is the stuff of life and most simply it for granted until a moment of existential awakening happens… and then like the Semai, refuse to explore it.
For me the decision to own a gun and target practice was why we had the 2nd amendment to protect the 1st amendment. Our founding fathers knew what was the cost of freedom.
Wonderful article as always Sam. I believe as it has been stated in other comments to be a good and true citizen and I would say patriot one needs to be prepared in several arenas of life. I believe much of this started when we moved away from our agrarian society. Raising food and animals for consumption has a certain level of violence. While it is not man on man violence. Slaughtering your own food opens up your mind to the sacrifice made by another creature. Something hidden away from us now behind concrete walls where no cameras are allowed. I dont crave or yearn for violence. No sir. No more than I yearn for my lights to go out. But I have a candle and a match. That doesn't make me a caveman.... it makes me prepared. I have made peace that I am capable of violence. In that understanding is freedom.
David, thank you for these wonderful thoughts. I believe you're spot on. The basics of having to kill our own food reminded us of the cycle of things. Merely getting this back would make a massive impact on the majority of people's daily perspective.
The veil of ignorance that hung low over my own helplessness was lifted when I became a father. In preparation for my daughter’s arrival, I attended a first aid course and fully discovered how helpless and reliant I’d been on others if confronted with an emergency situation.
Training BJJ and boxing made me realise how helpless I was against anyone with even just a bit of fighting knowledge/experience.
Prior to becoming a father, I’d never thought about ‘prepping’ or what to do if the grid goes down… which, after seeing what happened in Spain, isn’t as ‘out there’ as I previously thought - especially in the UK!
Ignorance of these things is bliss, until you spot your ignorance then it becomes a problem 😅
Great piece Sam. I think one of the by-products of the shift to an all-volunteer force has been a societal disconnect from the realities of violence. Prior to WWI there was an enormous push for citizen readiness (Teddy Roosevelt was a big proponent). Perhaps we would benefit from something similar today.
I also find it somewhat bewildering at times the prevalence of violence in digital / virtual spaces (from tv and movies to video games, etc.) alongside this general physical, mental, and philosophical unreadiness. I think it is somehow connected to the shift away from a conception of military service as the virtuous duty of citizens during a time of war, but there are likely many explanations.
The volunteer piece is interesting. I will sing the praises of the benefits to be had from military experience, but at the same time I think the "volunteer" portion is crucial. Your point about citizen readiness is the path forward, in my opinion. The trouble will be bringing such a culture back when there seems to be no need (delusion of safety) and then the fragmentation of society we are witnessing. This alone is worth study.
I like your second point. I never understood the group that found more value in mastering Call of Duty than in going for a trail run or enlisting to do some actual training/fighting. I wonder what a pre-state hunter or Roman Legionnaire would say if we dropped him in one of these living rooms.
Excellent Sam! Recently I’ve been thinking more generally about what drives Stoics to act when so much emphasis is on the unimportance of externals and that so much is not up to us. You touch on an answer here.
Have you read Cicero On Duties? He writes of appropriate actions based on our roles. But there is also the concept of perfect action that aligns with virtue and transcends appropriate action. Just curious if you’ve explored this rabbit hole?
I have not read it, but it sounds like I need to. Ethics have always been a difficult topic, and the most striking thing about humanity is how they have changed from chimps, to hunter gatherers, to the ancients, all the way up to the modern day. Looking forward to hearing Cicero’s thoughts.
Cicero’s De Officiis was considered for centuries in Europe the handbook for young gentlemen training to assume their responsibilities as courtiers / soldiers / statesmen / owners of estates
Cicero wasn’t himself a Stoic, but he studied them, respected them, and incorporated many of their position into his own. His ideas on role ethics go along quite nicely with Epictetus’s. It is really interesting to consider that what we should do, even the necessity for violence, should depend on the context of our lives and what role we play in it.
Cicero wasn’t himself a Stoic, but he studied them, respected them, and incorporated many of their position into his own. His ideas on role ethics go along quite nicely with Epictetus’s. It is really interesting to consider that what we should do, even the necessity for violence, should depend on the context of our lives and what role we play in it.
You’ve revealed a deep, unsettling truth, Sam. I reflected for days about responding properly to this post. Instead, I’ll share this podcast with my highest recommendation which is revelatory about Thucydides and the true nature of war.
I thought I understood his “Peloponnesian War” and now I realize I didn’t even scratch the surface of Thucydides’ thought.
I know your time is limited, Sam. But this isn’t another book on a bookshelf, you can listen to it while driving or working out. Sample quotes: “If you really want to understand human nature, you must look at man in terms of war” and “war generates passions to match our circumstances.” ‘Nuff said.
With almost 65 years of experience as a radically independent woman, I can assure all the naive of the violence waiting around for a hapless victim. I've made sure to never be a victim but there aren't always normal men around on a country drive or a cop in my back pocket, but just a display of my trusty firearm discourages the lunatics without having had to squeeze a trigger. It's no surprise that Harry Potter shows human violence as J.K. Rowling was a classics major. Re the mama bear: I thank God every day the trans cult wasn't around when my children were still children. One warning shot and then it would be bodies stacking up.
This is undoubtedly radical independence, and the fact firearms are able to equalize the playing field so to speak between men and women is a gift. Thank you for your thoughts.
I always think I've read my favourite of your essays, and then you come out with another banger! This one was great, and I would agree we should train for these things. I recently chased after a hit and run driver, down the street screaming at his truck until he stopped. I don't think I could have had that level of determination if not for all the boxing I did, learning to stay myself and strong and present. I think it's wise to be ready, to know ourselves in times of trouble.
Great and reflective article, Sam. Training for the worst case scenario is such an interesting idea to boost preparation, competence, and confidence. Great stuff.
Reaching that point in our minds (and for some, simply knowing it exists) is glorious. Not the violence itself, but the attuned awareness of intensity, an empowerment of a muscle ready to be engaged. Knowing it's there to be used... This essay leaves me contemplating my readiness, as well as that of those around me. I know how to turn on my heightened awareness, but teaching it to others (e.g., my kids) presents an obstacle- will they know how to harness embodied self if needed? Without war, sports and other forms of competition seem like the training ground.
Extremely well framed point and one I still haven’t figured out a good answer for. How do we communicate the need and skill to others? And if we figure it out, how much should we communicate?
You’ve generated Food for thought. I always wonder when I watch kids play video games where they are killing masses of enemy and their avatar being killed only loses them a few points in a game. What are they learning? Will that affect them when they are faced with reality. I am from a generation before video games. I vividly remember the first time I pulled a trigger “ in anger.” I’ll admit I was slow on the uptake. It was a shock that a guy was trying to kill me. Then I pulled the trigger. Thank God I was a better shot, otherwise my hesitation would have been my last thought.
We have some of the world’s best warriors, so I guess we still have a seam of violence as part of our makeup as you suggest. I do wonder if we are breeding it out however as we further isolate and protect ourselves from nature. Sorry for rambling.
Thank you for sharing, Marshall. You get it. There is no telling what America is doing at present. To your point, we’re a land of extremes — the best warriors the world has ever know on the one hand and the most unprepared for violence and reality on the other. These are novel times.
Great article! I completely agree. Without violence, there would be no appreciation for peace, for good. We need the yin to define the yang. I would also say that the person who thinks they have no capacity for violence has obviously never been punched in the face😬 (or had their kids threatened, or had to protect their neighbor—both of which are sourced from compassion, not anger as violence is often attributed to).
Thank you, Jeff. You're hitting on the mama bear phenomenon. One of the paradoxical downsides of our exceptional safety is never having to go into mama bear mode. It is a blessing and a curse for so many. But the more we talk about it, hopefully the more it is thought about and the real preparation begins.
We like to compete. Why? Some play chess, some play football. Some do both. Why?
The desire to compete and win is so ingrained in us, we don't even think about it. We should think about it.
Without a doubt. It is the stuff of life and most simply it for granted until a moment of existential awakening happens… and then like the Semai, refuse to explore it.
Imagine how close we came to stopping competition and winning by our “participation trophies” indoctrination by our school system and DEI policies.
I think we still need to keep up the fight. My sense is that isn’t going anywhere until a significant wake up call happens, but hopefully I’m wrong.
Maybe when this AI becomes reality:
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/114887992924632896
For me the decision to own a gun and target practice was why we had the 2nd amendment to protect the 1st amendment. Our founding fathers knew what was the cost of freedom.
It is still stunning to realize how far ahead they were able to see. Exceptional.
Wonderful article as always Sam. I believe as it has been stated in other comments to be a good and true citizen and I would say patriot one needs to be prepared in several arenas of life. I believe much of this started when we moved away from our agrarian society. Raising food and animals for consumption has a certain level of violence. While it is not man on man violence. Slaughtering your own food opens up your mind to the sacrifice made by another creature. Something hidden away from us now behind concrete walls where no cameras are allowed. I dont crave or yearn for violence. No sir. No more than I yearn for my lights to go out. But I have a candle and a match. That doesn't make me a caveman.... it makes me prepared. I have made peace that I am capable of violence. In that understanding is freedom.
David, thank you for these wonderful thoughts. I believe you're spot on. The basics of having to kill our own food reminded us of the cycle of things. Merely getting this back would make a massive impact on the majority of people's daily perspective.
The veil of ignorance that hung low over my own helplessness was lifted when I became a father. In preparation for my daughter’s arrival, I attended a first aid course and fully discovered how helpless and reliant I’d been on others if confronted with an emergency situation.
Training BJJ and boxing made me realise how helpless I was against anyone with even just a bit of fighting knowledge/experience.
Prior to becoming a father, I’d never thought about ‘prepping’ or what to do if the grid goes down… which, after seeing what happened in Spain, isn’t as ‘out there’ as I previously thought - especially in the UK!
Ignorance of these things is bliss, until you spot your ignorance then it becomes a problem 😅
Rock on Tom. You’re leaning into it. Thank you for sharing.
Great piece Sam. I think one of the by-products of the shift to an all-volunteer force has been a societal disconnect from the realities of violence. Prior to WWI there was an enormous push for citizen readiness (Teddy Roosevelt was a big proponent). Perhaps we would benefit from something similar today.
I also find it somewhat bewildering at times the prevalence of violence in digital / virtual spaces (from tv and movies to video games, etc.) alongside this general physical, mental, and philosophical unreadiness. I think it is somehow connected to the shift away from a conception of military service as the virtuous duty of citizens during a time of war, but there are likely many explanations.
The volunteer piece is interesting. I will sing the praises of the benefits to be had from military experience, but at the same time I think the "volunteer" portion is crucial. Your point about citizen readiness is the path forward, in my opinion. The trouble will be bringing such a culture back when there seems to be no need (delusion of safety) and then the fragmentation of society we are witnessing. This alone is worth study.
I like your second point. I never understood the group that found more value in mastering Call of Duty than in going for a trail run or enlisting to do some actual training/fighting. I wonder what a pre-state hunter or Roman Legionnaire would say if we dropped him in one of these living rooms.
Excellent Sam! Recently I’ve been thinking more generally about what drives Stoics to act when so much emphasis is on the unimportance of externals and that so much is not up to us. You touch on an answer here.
Have you read Cicero On Duties? He writes of appropriate actions based on our roles. But there is also the concept of perfect action that aligns with virtue and transcends appropriate action. Just curious if you’ve explored this rabbit hole?
I have not read it, but it sounds like I need to. Ethics have always been a difficult topic, and the most striking thing about humanity is how they have changed from chimps, to hunter gatherers, to the ancients, all the way up to the modern day. Looking forward to hearing Cicero’s thoughts.
Cicero’s De Officiis was considered for centuries in Europe the handbook for young gentlemen training to assume their responsibilities as courtiers / soldiers / statesmen / owners of estates
Thank you, Chris. This is added to the wall of books to be read that keeps growing faster than I can read them. One of my favorite things.
I have the same problem Sam!
Cicero wasn’t himself a Stoic, but he studied them, respected them, and incorporated many of their position into his own. His ideas on role ethics go along quite nicely with Epictetus’s. It is really interesting to consider that what we should do, even the necessity for violence, should depend on the context of our lives and what role we play in it.
Cicero wasn’t himself a Stoic, but he studied them, respected them, and incorporated many of their position into his own. His ideas on role ethics go along quite nicely with Epictetus’s. It is really interesting to consider that what we should do, even the necessity for violence, should depend on the context of our lives and what role we play in it.
Wow nice Sam!!!
Thank you, Don.
You’ve revealed a deep, unsettling truth, Sam. I reflected for days about responding properly to this post. Instead, I’ll share this podcast with my highest recommendation which is revelatory about Thucydides and the true nature of war.
I thought I understood his “Peloponnesian War” and now I realize I didn’t even scratch the surface of Thucydides’ thought.
If you want to sample it to assess whether it’s worth listening to, he begins to discuss war at minute 31: https://substack.com/home/post/p-169423692?
I will definitely check this out, Chris. Thank you for sharing—looking forward to listening to it.
I know your time is limited, Sam. But this isn’t another book on a bookshelf, you can listen to it while driving or working out. Sample quotes: “If you really want to understand human nature, you must look at man in terms of war” and “war generates passions to match our circumstances.” ‘Nuff said.
With almost 65 years of experience as a radically independent woman, I can assure all the naive of the violence waiting around for a hapless victim. I've made sure to never be a victim but there aren't always normal men around on a country drive or a cop in my back pocket, but just a display of my trusty firearm discourages the lunatics without having had to squeeze a trigger. It's no surprise that Harry Potter shows human violence as J.K. Rowling was a classics major. Re the mama bear: I thank God every day the trans cult wasn't around when my children were still children. One warning shot and then it would be bodies stacking up.
This is undoubtedly radical independence, and the fact firearms are able to equalize the playing field so to speak between men and women is a gift. Thank you for your thoughts.
Another deeply thoughtful, culturally relevant and well written piece. Thank you Sam!
You are more than welcome, Darrin. Thank you for jumping in.
I always think I've read my favourite of your essays, and then you come out with another banger! This one was great, and I would agree we should train for these things. I recently chased after a hit and run driver, down the street screaming at his truck until he stopped. I don't think I could have had that level of determination if not for all the boxing I did, learning to stay myself and strong and present. I think it's wise to be ready, to know ourselves in times of trouble.
Also, you have excellent taste in fiction!
I really appreciate it, Genevieve, on all fronts. Now chasing a hit and run driver, that takes courage and in-the-moment readiness. Bravo!
“If you want peace, prepare for war”
There’s a beautiful interplay between our capacity for violence and our capacity for love. Violent capability buys me time.
Time to listen, time to observe, time to decide.
Time to RESPOND, because I have pressure-tested my ability to REACT.
Violent capability has rewarded me with the opportunity to resolve most conflicts with love.
Thanks for another awesome post.
This is well said, Tim. The respond <> react spectrum is a joy to train in and of itself. I appreciate your thoughts/experience.
Great and reflective article, Sam. Training for the worst case scenario is such an interesting idea to boost preparation, competence, and confidence. Great stuff.
Thank you Andres, I'm stoked you enjoyed it.
Reaching that point in our minds (and for some, simply knowing it exists) is glorious. Not the violence itself, but the attuned awareness of intensity, an empowerment of a muscle ready to be engaged. Knowing it's there to be used... This essay leaves me contemplating my readiness, as well as that of those around me. I know how to turn on my heightened awareness, but teaching it to others (e.g., my kids) presents an obstacle- will they know how to harness embodied self if needed? Without war, sports and other forms of competition seem like the training ground.
Extremely well framed point and one I still haven’t figured out a good answer for. How do we communicate the need and skill to others? And if we figure it out, how much should we communicate?
That 2nd question raises even more questions 🤯