Argumentitive Essay

Design Response

Our Fascination With Violence

Many commend technological developments for the drastic change in the morality of violence. Steve Pinker's theory suggests that one technology, in particular, is the

development of printing

. Printing made the distribution of information available and more widely accessible. The

‘expansion of the circle’

is a term coined by Peter Singer, which correlates to this hypothesis. The concept itself can be traced back to Charles Darwin. In Darwin's view, empathy is the foundation for our actions, as opposed to selfishness. However, by default, we limit our sympathy exclusively to friends and families. However this limit has expanded from one’s relatives, village, clan, tribe, outward to other races, sex, and species throughout history. The technology of printing rapidly increased cosmopolitanism, which sped up the expansion of the circle. The increase in literacy afforded access to history, literature, media, and journalism. In short, the ability to adopt another's perspectives lead to more sympathy. The humanitarian revolution's success is a crucial piece of evidence for this argument, from The Enlightenment, the Long Peace, to recent activism. Simply reflect on the advocacy that has emerged during the past five decades. We went from

lynchings

that were commonplace in the southern United States and advertisements that broadcast domestic violence on television in the 1950s, to our current moment of political

‘wokeness’

.

The growth of education and literacy have stimulated public discourse; people are encouraged to think more abstractly, critically, and most importantly, universally. People have the ability to see beyond their parochial vantage point; therefore, it has also made it harder for people to privilege their interests over others. In Pinker’s thesis, he claims the morality of tribalism, authority, and puritanism was replaced by fairness and universal rules. It allows people to realize the futility of a cycle of violence. Violence is viewed as a problem to be solved rather than a way of solving problems.

Even though our views towards real-life violence have shifted throughout the years, it has never stopped us from pursuing it in alternative forms. One conspicuous evidence to support this argument is that the popularity of vicarious violence has gone up over the past century. People find more enjoyment in simulated violence, which often dominates our entertainment. The never-ending exploration of new forms of violence simulation has never been so in-demand.

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