Aggression and war: philosophical-anthropological reflections on the conditions for achieving “perpetual peace” and the causes of aggression

Urgency of the research. The issues of aggression and war remain unsolved problems of humanity even in the 21st century. In the process of philosophical comprehension of these phenomena, there arises a need to seek ways of achieving “perpetual peace” as the ideal of harmonious coexistence. The search for conditions to establish peace and end war is especially pertinent to our country.

Target setting. The distinctive feature of reflecting on the conditions for achieving “perpetual peace” lies in the complexity of assessing the prospects for such peace against the backdrop of ongoing wars and social conflicts in the modern world.

Actual scientific researches and issues analysis. The philosophical traditions of I. Kant, G.W.F. Hegel, and T. Hobbes, and their ideas regarding war and peace, remain foundational in the anthropological understanding of these phenomena. Among contemporary researchers who expand upon these approaches, one can note the works of J. Habermas, R. Norman, F. Fukuyama, as well as Ukrainian thinkers O. Zabuzhko, T. Lyuty, V. Yermolenko, B. Parakhonsky, H. Yavorska, H. Sytnyk, O. Panych, O. Ostapenko, and V. Ryashko. However, the majority of studies focus primarily on issues of aggression and war, leaving aside the possibility of transforming them into “perpetual peace.”

The research objective. To identify and analyze the main causes of aggression that lead to wars, as well as to explore possible ways of eliminating them to achieve “perpetual peace.” Special attention is paid to examining the factors that have a direct impact on forming sustainable conditions for peaceful coexistence.

The statement of basic materials. Despite established concepts regarding the role of social, political, and economic factors in the development of war, this article examines modern challenges related to aggression, particularly in the context of globalization, digitalization, and the influence of ideologies. Special attention is given to analyzing the anthropological nature of aggression as a mechanism of evolutionary survival that takes on destructive forms in the modern world and poses contemporary challenges.

Conclusions. Recent years, marked by armed conflicts, have significantly influenced the process of philosophical reflection on the conditions for achieving “perpetual peace,” introducing major revisions to relevant concepts. This situation presents a serious challenge for modern philosophical anthropology and social ethics, prompting new approaches to solving the problem of war as a social phenomenon.