26 pages • 52 minutes read
Summary
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Key Figures
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Tools
Throughout the book, Junger seems to advance a particular understanding of human nature. What is human nature according to Junger? Is it good or bad? Is it situational, or is there an essence that he identifies?
Related to the first question, Junger states in the first chapter that early humans did not have stronger moral compasses than modern humans, but their tribal societies created pressures that checked antisocial behaviors, unlike modern societies which seem to encourage such behaviors. What is Junger saying here about the role of social structures versus human nature? Can you locate his position in the “nature versus nurture” debate?
It seems that Junger is saying that PTSD is a symptom that society is ailing. Could you see other psychiatric disorders in this same light? What does this view mean for psychology and psychiatry?
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By Sebastian Junger